British PM's Visit Must Be Beneficial For Indonesia: Legislator

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - British Prime Minister David Cameron's visit to Jakarta on Monday to meet President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) must be useful for Indonesia, according to a legislator.

"Indonesia must adopt a firm stance during this visit regarding the establishment of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) office in the United Kingdom," member of the House of Representatives' Commission I Ahmad Zainuddin noted in a written statement here on Monday.

He questioned why the United Kingdom has permitted the long-time presence of the OPM representative office in the country.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) politician noted that the presence of the OPM office is a political issue of a country outside the United Kingdom, and so, President Jokowi needs to emphasize to the British prime minister that the Unitary State of the Indonesian Republic (NKRI) is carved in stone.

Zainuddin affirmed that if needed, President Jokowi should urge Prime Minister Cameron to close the OPM representative office in the United Kingdom as an indication of his understanding, respect, and support to the NKRI.

He said the inclusion of Papua into the NKRI had received the backing of the international community, but now, several groups were making an effort to distort the facts by turning Papua into an international issue.

"We have agreed that the NKRI is carved in stone, and therefore, our diplomacy to maintain the NKRI should continue to be strengthened," he added. (WDY)