Asked By Lord Harries of Pentregarth
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether
they will make representations to the Government of Indonesia regarding
the initiation of a dialogue with the indigenous West Papuan opposition.
The Minister of State, Foreign and
Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): My Lords, the UK remains
committed to the territorial integrity of Indonesia. We will do all we
can in support of measures to address the widespread poverty in the area
in question, and to raise our concerns about human rights abuses
wherever they occur. We encourage, along with other international
partners, a meaningful dialogue which would be of assistance in finding
an acceptable solution.
Lord Harries of Pentregarth: I thank the
Minister for his reply, but would he urge on the Indonesian Government
the sheer seriousness of the present situation. He will not need to be
reminded of the statement of the Foreign Secretary in the other place
that friendly relationships with states should in no way preclude our
raising human rights abuses in the strongest terms.
Would he draw the attention of the
Indonesian Government to the fact that 10,000 people are assembled in
June to reject the so-called special autonomy measures? The West Papuan
people do not believe that these are helping them, and a dialogue is
needed with their leaders.
Lord Howell of Guildford: I appreciate
the very strong feelings on this subject, not only of the noble and
right reverend Lord but of many people about some of the reports from
that area. I fully endorse what my right honourable friend the Foreign
Secretary said in another place. Our ambassador raised with the governor
authorities only a couple of weeks ago some aspects concerning human
rights that clearly concern us greatly. The Deputy Prime Minister raised
questions of human rights in the area and of access of journalists, to
see just what is going on, when he met senior Indonesian Ministers at
the Asia-Europe summit in October. So we certainly have not been silent
on this matter, but we do believe that it really is the responsibility
of the central, district and provincial Governments and all the parties
concerned to work out exactly how a dialogue is going to go forward.
There are real restraints on how much we can do from outside, except to
keep raising our voice about the clear abuses of human rights that have,
sadly, occurred.
Lord Avebury: My Lords, I declare an
interest as having been involved for two and a half years in the
negotiations between the Indonesian Government and the Atonese people,
which led to a successful conclusion. Has the example of that process,
and in particular the use of mediators, been considered by the parties?
If not, could it be suggested by the Government to the Indonesians?
16 Dec 2010 : Column 727
Lord Howell of Guildford: In instances
such as the one that my noble friend has mentioned, mediators and
facilitators can play a part. We have not been asked to play such a role
ourselves, but I would not question the proposition that in very
difficult and intense situations of the kind that we are discussing,
this kind of mediation can undoubtedly play a part. However, we have not
been asked to play that part.
Lord Hannay of Chiswick: Will the
Minister confirm that the Indonesian Government are maintaining their
ban on foreign journalists going to Papua? If that is so, does he not
agree that the ban is entirely counterproductive, because it nurtures
the view that there is something going on there that has to be
concealed? Will he therefore say whether the Government will follow up
the intervention by the Deputy Prime Minister at the Asia-EU summit and
press the point on the Indonesian Government in their own best
interests?
Lord Howell of Guildford: Certainly what
has been raised by the Deputy Prime Minister will be followed up. The
noble Lord mentioned concealment. If he has visited websites, as I have,
to look at reports of what is going on there, he will have seen enough
to realise that horrific and dreadful things have occurred. While the
case for greater access for journalists is always strong and we will
pursue it, we can already see what is happening there.
Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke: My Lords,
the noble Lord will be aware that one of the associated problems in
Indonesia is that of people-smuggling. In view of the tragedy overnight
off Christmas Island, will the Government do everything in their power
to raise again in international fora the need for concerted
international action against people smuggling?
Lord Howell of Guildford: Yes, of course
we will. One has to echo the words of the noble Baroness about the
sadness and tragedy so graphically depicted in photographs in our
newspapers this morning of these refugees-boat people of a kind-going to
a terrible death in the storms off Christmas Island. It is very sad.
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: My
Lords, the Minister was kind enough to tell us that the ambassador
raised these issues, as did the Deputy Prime Minister at the summit a
couple of months ago. Will he tell us what the response of the
Indonesian Government was to having these matters raised?
Lord Howell of Guildford: Not in detail,
except that they recognised we have these concerns. The ambassador was
in the West Papua region and talked to the governor and to the police
authorities. He made the point very clearly that the reported abuses of
human rights are completely unacceptable and that we are very concerned.
As far as concerns their response, we must try to look forward to the
possibility of getting a dialogue going so that an acceptable solution
can be found. However, from outside it is very difficult for us or for
any other international partner to define what that solution should be
and how it should go forward.
