Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Defense Forces` Commander Marshal Djoko Suyanto said here on Wednesday Indonesia must watch out for efforts of foreign non-governmental organizations to raise the Papua issue at international forums.
"In the latest development some foreign NGOs have been trying to use popular figures such as Bishop Desmond Tutu to lobby the UN to raise the Papua issue at an international forum," he said in a military leadership meeting at the TNI headquarters here attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
He said that in terms of security the Papua problem was not remarkable but it had often been politicized by foreign NGOs at international forums.
"This is indeed not under our authority, but attempts of foreign NGOs to internationalize the problem through top figures need to be watched," he said.
Djoko said the TNI should not be afraid of efforts to link Papua problems to human rights violations so long as it always carried out its duties according to rules.
During the meeting the TNI commander also touched on security development in Poso and Aceh.
He said cases of sectarian conflict in Poso and Aceh had declined in the past two years.
"Small incidents still taking place in Aceh were mere part of the process towards lasting peace that we have agreed to make. The conflicts may be categorized as mere crimes that have to be settled by the law enforcement authorities there," he said.
Although there were still incidents, in general the situation in Poso had much improved compared to several years ago.
President Yudhoyono as well as Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono were scheduled to give directives at the meeting which would conclude on Thursday.(*)
"In the latest development some foreign NGOs have been trying to use popular figures such as Bishop Desmond Tutu to lobby the UN to raise the Papua issue at an international forum," he said in a military leadership meeting at the TNI headquarters here attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
He said that in terms of security the Papua problem was not remarkable but it had often been politicized by foreign NGOs at international forums.
"This is indeed not under our authority, but attempts of foreign NGOs to internationalize the problem through top figures need to be watched," he said.
Djoko said the TNI should not be afraid of efforts to link Papua problems to human rights violations so long as it always carried out its duties according to rules.
During the meeting the TNI commander also touched on security development in Poso and Aceh.
He said cases of sectarian conflict in Poso and Aceh had declined in the past two years.
"Small incidents still taking place in Aceh were mere part of the process towards lasting peace that we have agreed to make. The conflicts may be categorized as mere crimes that have to be settled by the law enforcement authorities there," he said.
Although there were still incidents, in general the situation in Poso had much improved compared to several years ago.
President Yudhoyono as well as Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono were scheduled to give directives at the meeting which would conclude on Thursday.(*)
Copyright © 2006 ANTARA
September 20, 2006