Wednesday, November 15 10:52 AM SGT
Australian FM Denies Canberra Supporting Free Papua
Bandar Seri Begawan, Nov 15 Asia Pulse

Allegations that Canberra supports the separatist movement in Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya have been reported been dismissed by Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

Australia had no interest in a free Papua state, Downer told Indonesian Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut Binsar Panjaitan here Tuesday.

Downer and Panjaitan met on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation [OPEC] being held in Bandar Seri Begawan.

"I asked him (Downer) whether Australia supported a free Papua state and he replied allegations to that effect were totally unfounded," Panjaitan said.

The Indonesian minister also quoted Downer as saying the Australian government fully respected Indonesia's sovereignty.

Irian Jaya became part of Indonesia in 1963, after heavy diplomatic pressure on the Netherlands, the country's former colonial ruler. In 1969, a U.N.-organized plebiscite among local leaders resulted
in a vote to join Indonesia.
- -- (ANTARA)