VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD emphasized that the government would not conduct any negotiations regarding the wish to separate Papua from the Republic of Indonesia.

"For the Indonesian government, the unity of Papua, both Papua and West Papua Provinces, with the Republic of Indonesia is final. There is no further way, there is no negotiation for independence, to separate," Mahfud said in a virtual press conference in Jakarta, Thursday.

Mahfud said this was in response to the conflict between the security forces and the armed criminal group (KKB) in Intan Jaya, Papua, in recent days.

Violence always appears near 1 December or a special anniversary day for the Papuan independence movement. This issue usually arises ahead of the holding of the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) some time ago.

"Now it is happening again because there is a group of people who want to separate themselves, separate Papua. [They] work together with provocateurs from other countries. We confront it all because it violates the law," Mahfud said.

Mahfud emphasized that the UN had conducted a referendum in Papua in 1963 and the UN has approved it.

"Since then there has been no more way for Papua, for certain people in Papua, to ask for independence," Mahfud emphasized.

In connection with the armed conflict in Intan Jaya which killed at least four people, namely two TNI members, one civilian, and one priest, he said his party would form a joint investigation team to find the cause of the death.

"The government will form a joint investigation team that can be more objective in exploring this so as not to cause controversy," Mahfud said. 

The investigation team includes government officials, religious leaders, community leaders, traditional leaders, and academics. Mahfud said the team aims to explore facts that have occurred in the recent conflict in Papua. (Antaranews)