Indonesia accepted that its province of Irian Jaya would follow in the footsteps of East Timor in seeking independence if human rights were not observed there, Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said.

“I think this is a universal premise,” Shihab told AAP last night before departing for a meeting of Islamic countries in the Middle East nation of Qatar.

With relations still tense over Australia's role in establishing peace in East Timor after a vote for independence last year, Shihab this week requested clarification from his Australian counterpart Alexander Downer of his comments about the Papuan independence movement.

Downer told Meet The Press that human rights there had to be observed, otherwise secessionist movements would be encouraged.

In recent months, security forces and independence fighters have clashed, sometimes fatally, as authorities attempt to prevent the raising of the Morning Star flag, a symbol of independence in Irian Jaya.

Shihab said he accepted Downer's remarks as a “reminder”, which would be said to an equal, rather than as a “warning”, which was used for a child.

“He is only reminding us if the human rights violation takes place in Irian Jaya, as was the case in East Timor, it is likely Irian may follow suit,” Shihab said.

Asked whether he agreed with this claim, he said:

“We know that there are so many malpractices of the past, injustices and we would like to correct that, so it is very valid.”

Shihab also said he was not offended by last month's communique from the Pacific Islands Forum calling on Indonesia and the Papuan independence movement to exercise restraint

“We have to verify the statement,” he said.

He said he would accompany a delegation of ministers to Canberra on December 10 to prepare for the long-delayed and controversial visit of President Abdurrahman Wahid in late January or early February.

“It is up to the Australians to fix the date in late January or the first week of February, but we are ready to go ahead,” he said of the President's visit.

Last month, Shihab cancelled a ministerial delegation just days before it was set to take place.