Jakarta – Vice President Boediono brushed aside fears of 'foreign intervention' in the event of donor development funds being more accessible in Papua.

"Don't seek ghosts in broad daylight," Boediono said on Wednesday. "The most important thing is for us to filter, be selective. Let's not close ourselves off (unnecessarily)," he remarked.

He stressed that there were many donors – bilateral and multilateral – with good intentions in Papua.

He dismissed undue fears that countries like Australia and the United States had ulterior motives, referring to treaties and statements made by the two countries respecting Indonesia's territorial integrity. One improvement that Boediono feels should be undertaken is the country's diplomacy in presenting the Papua case overseas.

Not only should Indonesia be more proactive, but the approach had to be holistic, he said.(mds)