Jakarta – The government threatened on Wednesday to end diplomatic ties with the Republic of Vanuatu if the country continued to support the Free Papua Organization (OPM) in its struggle to separate from Indonesia, Antara reported.

Indonesia acting ambassador for Australia Imron Cotan told Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Nipake Natapai last week about the government's policy following reports on the opening of the OPM representative office in Vanuatu.

"We're mandated to deliver Indonesia's position over the plan to open what they say is the first Papua embassy in the world," he said. He argued that Papua's case was different than that of East Timor because Papua had been a part of Indonesia's territory since the republic was established.

"Since the Dutch colony era, Indonesia has defended Papua's territory in every way, including war. Now, we are ready for war again to defend Papua," Imron said.

Indonesia has complained that Vanuatu had broken the Pacific Asia Forum agreement, which states its support of Indonesia's ownership of Papua. Indonesia is a partner country of the forum, which accommodates Pacific countries.

Indonesia has developed diplomatic ties with Vanuatu since July 1995. Vanuatu is reportedly supporting the OPM by accommodating its leaders and pledging to allow the OPM to develop the first Papua embassy in the world, which is expected to be inaugurated in the middle of the week or in March at the latest.