West Papua concerns will be raised - John Key
DANYA LEVY IN JAKARTA
Fairfax NZ
Prime Minister John Key.
MARION VAN DIJK/Nelson Mail
Green MP Catherine Delahunty.
The sensitive issue of West Papua will be addressed when John Key meets with Indonesian leaders in the capital Jakarta, the prime minister vows.
Key, Trade Minister Tim Groser and a 26-strong business delegation arrived in Jakarta last night on a three-day mission aimed at boosting trade in non-agricultural areas such as education, aviation, tourism and geothermal energy.
Efforts to make West Papua independent are a contentious issue for Indonesia, which sees the province as a touchstone of its territorial integrity.
The Greens had called on Key to raise concerns about human rights, particularly the jailing of five freedom activists, known as the Jayapura Five, on treason charges.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have expressed concern about their treatment.
Greens MP Catherine Delahunty said West Papua was Indonesia's "dirty little secret" and Key should have the "ethical courage'" to discuss the issue.
However, Key said he met Indonesian Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan yesterday and the issue of West Papua had already been raised.
"One of the things he relayed to me is it's a very complex issue."
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was well known for supporting human rights.
"In fairness, he is doing the best he can."
The issue was likely to be raised in his meeting with vice president Boediono who had responsibility for West Papua.
While it was a sensitive issue for Indonesia, New Zealand's relationship with the emerging economic super power was not solely about trade, Key said.
New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia David Taylor often raised the issue of West Papua with local officials.
Key said he would tell the vice president New Zealand was a country with a strong human rights record.
"We expect every person in the world to be treated fairly and in a way we would treat fellow New Zealanders and that is how we expect people to be treated in Papua."
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