Jakarta – Separatist movements from Papua, Aceh and Maluku have returned to the spotlight after the slogans "Free Maluku", "Free Papua" and "Free Aceh" appeared at a United Nations (PBB) forum recently.
In a number of photos and videos circulating on social media, a group of people suspected of being Indonesian citizens (WNI) dressed in traditional clothing were photographed while holding placards with the slogans "Free Maluku", "Free Papua" and "Free Aceh" in the UN general assembly meeting room in New York, the United States.
The incident apparently took place at the opening of the 24th Session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) that is scheduled to take place between April 21 and May 2.
In one of the videos circulating on social media, a security officer from the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is seen approaching the table of the group of protesters and taking away the cardboard placards that they had brought reading "Free Maluku", "Free Papua" and "Free Aceh".
One of the delegates claimed that the reprimand by the security officer occurred after their presence was reported by Indonesia's permanent assistant military representative at the UN.
"This is a PBB forum, they like us. We have rights, it's not the Indonesian DPR [Regional House of Representatives]. You're prohibiting us", said a member of the delegation in the video.
The UN does indeed hold routine sessions that focus on various human rights issues, including the guarantee of rights for indigenous peoples in various countries.
This year's UNPFII session is being held over two weeks at the UN headquarters and is to be attended by hundreds of delegates from various countries including indigenous peoples' organisations.
The forum represents a space for discussion for UN member countries and representatives of world indigenous peoples to discuss the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Irresponsible, sensation seeking
Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Rolliansyah (Roy) Soemirat has confirmed the "Free Papua, Maluku and Aceh" incident at the UN forum. Soemirat considers the incident to be irresponsible and merely sensation seeking.
"Indeed there was an incident related to irresponsible people who misused the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) a few days ago", Soemirat told reporters following a press conference at the Palapa Building in Central Jakarta on Thursday April 24.
He explained the forum was under the auspices of the UN. There, UN member countries exchanged ideas on efforts to empower indigenous peoples and how to cooperate with other countries by considering and respecting the sovereignty of member countries.
"It is very unfortunate, there were indeed some individuals who abused their presence at the forum to do things that are contrary to the organisation of the forum itself", he said.
Thus, when there are people who attend UN forums despite being under a non-government organisation (NGO) flag but then utilise it for the benefit of certain individuals or groups this is unacceptable even by the international organisation itself.
"So when there are people looking for a sensation that do this, it's clear that their actions are misusing the forum and they may be said to be people who are irresponsible or even that they don't have any ethics at all let alone the ethics to behave in an international forum", said Soemirat . (rds)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Kronologi Slogan 'Free Papua, Maluku, & Aceh' Muncul di Forum PBB".]
