Reporting by Amie Fenia Arimbi Jakarta (Antara) - Indonesia officially files complaint to British government over the opening of Free West Papua office in Oxford city by Oxford city council in England, Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said here on Saturday. "Recent incident is the opposite of British government's statement made repeatedly in the past that it acknowledges Indonesia's sovereignty which includes Papua and West Papua as part of the country," the minister said. Marty added the opening of Free West Papua office in Oxford is also not in line with the spirit of good relations that Indonesia and Britain has shared during the past years nor to the international community's support towards Indonesia's sovereignty. "We have instructed our ambassador in London to explain our stance on this issue to the British government. We believe that the opening of Free West Papua office in Oxford is a desperate attempt from those who are against the reality," Marty said. Earlier British Ambassador to Indonesia Mark Canning on his written statement said the views of Oxford Council shall not be taken as reflecting those of the British Government. "The Council, like all councils in Britain, is free to support whatever causes it wishes. They are not part of government. They are not directed in any way by the government. The views of the UK government are well known. We regard Papua as part of this country and want it to enjoy the same peace and prosperity as other parts of this nation," he said. However the ambassador said the British government shares similar sentiment stated by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pilay on Friday (3/5/13) about human rights situation in West Papua. "Navi Pilay said that there are human rights concerns which need to be addressed. I am of course aware that efforts are under way to try to improve this, as well as to address issues relating to economic and social development, and we fully support them. We keep in touch with all those who are trying to move Papua forward, including the new Governor, who I met last week," the ambassador said. (*)

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