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Statement by before the ECOSOC General Segment New York, 22 July 2004 Mr. Vice-President, It is with much regret that Indonesia addresses members of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues today. The fact is that Indonesia played a key role in bringing the Permanent Forum into existence because it recognized the importance of having a forum to deal specifically with the many legitimate issues of relevance and concern to indigenous peoples. 5ince the Permanent Forum came into existence only three years ago, it is logical that it would continue to undergo a process of improvement in its substantive, procedural and working methods, It is our common responsibility, as Governments, IPOs and international agencies, to support and ensure that the Permanent Forum carries out its mandate effectively. This undoubtedly depends on the accuracy of the Forum’s deliberations and proceedings. Mr. Vice-President, In this light, my delegation wishes to draw the attention of member states to irregularities in the Forum’s working procedures, which have set off alarm~ for Indonesia and should also be of concern to other member states. These are as follows: Firstly, my delegation is deeply concerned and disturbed to learn that a serious blunder took place during the selection process of IPO-based Asian experts for the next term of membership of the Permanent Forum. Using the results of that process, the Coordinating Committee listed West Papua as an independent country, thus separate from Indonesia. This did not only serve to bring into question the territorial integrity of Indonesia but it also constituted a grave infringement of the UN Charter. As an advisory body of ECOSOC, the
Permanent Forum should consistently uphold its mandate and, moreover,
it must scrupulously observe the noble principles of the UN Charter.
The recent anomaly of identifying West Papua as an independent country
sent the wrong signal and created the unfortunate impression that
instead of focusing on legitimate issues of importance to indigenous
people and advising the ECOSOC on ways to Secondly, my delegation strongly contests paragraph 52 of the report of the Third Session of the Permanent Forum in which the Forum expressed its deep concern about alleged atrocities and human rights violations committed against indigenous peoples in four specific countries, including Indonesia, notably its West Papua and Maluku provinces. Indonesia’s strong opposition to such references is based on the following main arguments: As a matter of principle, Indonesia’s 500 ethnic groups are all regarded as equally indigenous. In a strict sense, any reference to Indonesia in the Forum’s report therefore is simply irrelevant. While Indonesia shares the noble objective of this Forum to promote and protect the rights of indigenous peoples, it is an unfortunate fact that the Forum •has been manipulated by certain quarters for their separatist political ambitions. Those IPOs that have raised concerns, on behalf of the Maluku and West Papua communities, in the Forum under blanket coverage of indigenous issues, have not only done so out of context but have also clearly manipulated the Forum for the benefit of their separatist ambitions, and as a result have put the Forum, a body established under the UN, at risk of becoming a fertile breeding ground to sustain the ambitions of separatist movements. Moreover, as an advisory body consisting of experts, the Permanent Forum is expected to treat any unconfirmed allegations or reports in a more responsible manner. Indonesia has been greatly disappointed that those unfounded accusations were not the subject of constructive dialogue between the Forum and the Indonesian delegation, which we would have welcomed. The Forum also chose to ignore information provided by the Indonesian delegation and simply presented the accusations in its report. By this action, the Forum unquestionably adopts a certain paradigm and entertains as well as supports separatist voices. In our opinion, this is a severe breach
of the trust that Indonesia placed in the Permanent Forum at the time
of its establishment. We are firmly convinced that it is of paramount
importance for the Permanent Forum to Mr. Vice-President, These issues are not only a matter of principle for Indonesia but for other member states as well. My delegation therefore urges ECOSOC to request that the Forum take the necessary measures to improve its working methods and prevent the recurrence of similar anomalies in the future, including the act of singling out countries in its report based on unreliable information and baseless allegations. Mr. Vice President, Indonesia wishes to assure all member countries that this glaring injustice, which it has suffered will in no way serve to lessen its strong commitment to the noble objectives of the Forum and the importance it attaches to the work of the Forum, once this work is done in a competent and professional manner. Thank you.
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