No foreign assistance sought to placate tensions in Papua: Wiranto

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law, and Security Affairs Wiranto vehemently denied the incorrect claim of the Indonesian government seeking foreign assistance to ease tensions in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Related news: West Papua police arrest 20 alleged rioters

Wiranto affirmed that few violent protests erupting in the provinces from the racial abuse of Papuan students remained a national issue.

Hence, the minister noted that other nations had no right to intervene in the incidents taking place in Papua, as it came under Indonesia's sovereignty.

"For instance, a conflict broke out in Madura, then there was a claim of us calling for help from the French government, or, there was a conflict in Banten, and a claim was made of us seeking help from Saudi Arabia. These claims were obviously false. Every national issue, including the incidents in Papua and West Papua, remained under Indonesia's jurisdiction," he elaborated during a press conference at his office.

A false claim of the Indonesian government seeking foreign aid to handle matters relating to Papua might have surfaced following a meeting between US Assistant Secretary for East Asia and Pacific David R. Stillwell and Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko in Jakarta on Sept 2.

However, following the meeting, Moeldoko never spoke to the press of the Indonesian government seeking assistance from the United States, but he was optimistic of the US supporting Indonesia on maintaining its sovereignty in Papua.

For the past week, few rallies erupted in the main cities of Papua and West Papua provinces as a knee-jerk reaction to the racial abuse of several Papuan students in East Java Province. The rallies snowballed into rioting, as some protesters burnt down state offices, vehicles, and public facilities. Related news: Internet access in Papua to be back to normal from Sept 5

Related news: Minister makes assurance of air transportation normal in Papua

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