Empat Pernyataan Politik KNPB Untuk PIF

Aksi demo damai yang dilakukan KNPB, GempaR dan simpatisannya dalam pernyataan sikapnya yang mendukung PIF di Port Moresby, Papua Nugini – Jubi/Munir

Jayapura, Jubi – Komisi Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB), Gerakan Mahasiswa Pemuda dan Rakyat (GempaR) bersama beberapa mahasiswa dan simpatisan KNPB, Senin (7/9/2015), menggelar demo di Gapura Universitas Cenderawasih (Uncen), Perumnas III Waena, Distrik Heram, Kota Jayapura Papua.

Demo berlangsung damai dan diwarani orasi dari beberapa simpatisan KNPB, GempaR, dan Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa (BEM), yang mendukung Pasific Island Forum, di Port Moresby, Papua Nugini.

Empat pernyataan politik KNPB disampaikan dalam orasi demo. Pertama, bebaskan Papua Barat untuk menyelamatkan masyarakat Pasifik dari kolonialisme dan kapitalisme. Kedua, bebaskan Papua Barat untuk menyelamatkan masyarakat Pasifik dari pemanasan global. Ketiga, rakyat Papua Barat butuh bantuan rakyat Pasifik dari ancaman genosida. Keempat, mendesak Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa (PBB) mengirimkan tim khusus untuk menyelidiki status politik Papua dan Papua Barat.

“Kami sangat mendukung Pasifik Island Forum dapat menerima West Papua melalui United Liberation Movement for West Papua sebagai obsever agar dapat berperan aktif dalam membicarakan dan menyelesaikan masalah-masalah di kawasan ini secara bersama-sama,”

kata Victor Yeimo, Ketua Umum BPP-KNPB.

Di tempat yang sama, Kompol Heru Hidayanto, Kepala Bagian Operasional (Kabag-Ops) Polres Jayapura Kota, mengungkapkan aksi demo tersebut berjalan aman tanpa ada gangguan keamanan, ketertiban masyarakat (kamtibmas).

“Walaupun sebelumnya ada rencana long march, namun hal tersebut tidak terjadi dan mereka hanya melakukan aksi di tempat,”

kata Kompol Heru.

Personil Kepolisian yang disiagakan merupakan aparat gabungan Dalmas Polresta Jayapura dan Mapolda Papua, serta Brimob Polda Papua.

“Untuk pengamanan kita turunkan dari Dalmas Polresta Jayapura, 60 orang, Brimob 30 orang, dan Dalmas Polda Papua 60 orang. Harapan kami dengan banyaknya personil yang berjaga, mereka bisa melakukan aksi dengan tertib, karena sesungguhnya kami aparat kepolisian tidak menginginkan terjadinya benturan,”

katanya. (Munir)

September 7, 2015 at 18:35:19 WP,TJ

September 7, 2015 0

Papua Barat, Isu Paling Kontroversial dalam Agenda PIF

Jayapura, Jubi – Forum Kepulauan Pasifik (PIF) telah dibuka pada tanggal 4 September, ditandai dengan Workshop PINA/PIFS Regional Media yang dibuka oleh Dame Meg Taylor, Sekretaris Jenderal (Sekjen) Forum Kepulauan Pasifik.

Kepada wartawan yang menghadiri workshop, Meg Taylor kembali menegaskan lima isu yang ada dalam agenda PIF. Kelima isu tersebut adalah perikanan di Pasifik, perubahan iklim, dugaan pelanggaran Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM)di Papua Barat, kanker serviks dan Informasi, Komunikasi dan Teknologi.

Mengenai tiga rekomendasi yang sebelumnya didorong oleh Sekretariat PIF untuk dibicarakan oleh para pemimpin negara-negara Pasifik, Meg Taylor tidak memberikan tanggapan lebih lanjut. Sebelumnya, Sekjen PIF perempuan pertama ini menyebutkan tiga tindakan yang mungkin direkomendasikan kepada para pemimpin Pasifik adalah misi pencari fakta ke Papua Barat yang terdiri dari para menteri dari negara Pasifik, mendorong Papua Barat masuk dalam daftar dekolonisasi dan memberikan sanksi terhadap perusahaan-perusahaan Indonesia dan perusahaan pemerintah yang terbukti melakukan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia.

Namun Meg Taylor menegaskan dugaan isu hak asasi manusia di Papua Barat telah dimasukkan dalam agenda pembahasan para pemimpin di Pasifik untuk dipertimbangkan.

“Tiga pengajuan, yang mewakili lebih dari 30 organisasi masyarakat sipil di seluruh Pasifik telah diajukan dalam agenda para pemimpin. Dalam hal nomenklatur, pengajuan dari masyarakat sipil di Pasifik ini menunjukkan bahwa Papua Barat adalah bahasa yang digunakan untuk menjelaskan dugaan pelanggaran HAM. Tak perlu dikatakan, Papua Barat menjadi salah satu isu yang paling kontroversial dalam agenda,”

ujar Meg Taylor.

Ia menambahkan, dalam diskusinya dengan para pemimpin Pasifik untuk mempersiapkan PIF, dua isu yang tampaknya akan ditolak oleh para pemimpin adalah isu Papua Barat dan kanker serviks.

“Saya tidak akan memberikan jawaban. Saya ingin masyarakat sipil di Pasifik berpikir dan memberitahu saya apa yang harus dilakukan dan bagaimana cara terbaik agar saya dapat menginformasikan kepada para pemimpin. Sebab saya akan bertemu dengan enam belas pemimpin Pasifik minggu depan dan saya sudah diberi banyak pandangan. Mereka akan mempertimbangkan lima isu ini. Mungkin mereka tidak memilih semua isu untuk dibicarakan. Tapi masalah Papua Barat akan menjadi tantangan bagi beberapa pemerintah Pasifik. Dan kanker serviks, banyak orang tidak memahami betapa pentingnya masalah ini dibicarakan demi perempuan dan anak perempuan. Penyakit ini membunuh banyak perempuan di Pasifik,”

jelas Meg Taylor.

Ia juga mengakui kelompok masyarakat sipil di Pasifik mendorong Papua Barat dikembalikan dalam daftar dekolonisasi PBB, seperti halnya Tahiti. Ia membenarkan menjelang PIF, masyarakat sipil dan organisasi non-pemerintah se Pasifik (PIANGO) telah bertemu di Port Moresby. Ia juga menghadiri pertemuan yang diselenggarakan sejak tanggal 1-3 September ini. Dua isu utama yang didorong oleh kelompok masyarakat sipil Pasifik ini adalah Perubahan Iklim dan Papua Barat.

Emele Duituturaga Direktur PIANGO, kepada Jubi, Sabtu (5/9/2015) mengatakan kelompok masyarakat sipil Pasifik selain menginginkan perjanjian internasional yang mengikat tentang pengurangan emisi gas rumah kaca juga meminta pada para pemimpin Pasifik untuk memperhatikan masalah Papua Barat.

“Kami memiliki informasi langsung dari Papua Barat tentang kekejaman pelanggaran HAM. Ya, kami tahu bahwa ini sedang dipertanyakan. Ini juga mengapa kami mendesak misi pencari fakta atas pelanggaran-pelanggaran hak asasi manusia. Ini sangat mendesak,”

kata Emele.

Emele menambahkan, PIANGO bersama kelompok masyarakat sipil di Pasifik meminta para pemimpin Pasifik mendorong Papua Barat dikembalikan dalam daftar dekolonisasi PBB.

Terpisah, Octovianus Mote, Sekjen United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) yakin perjuangan rakyat Papua Barat untuk merdeka dan berdaulat akan berhasil. Hal ini ditunjukkan oleh dukungan masyarakat sipil yang terus bergulir dan meningkat. Papua sudah menjadi isu di Pasifik Selatan, bukan hanya di Melanesia.

“Papua sudah menjadi perhatian seluruh negara Pasifik Selatan karena masalah Papua merupakan masalah rakyat Pasifik Selatan. Bukan saja Melanesia tetapi Polinesia dan Micronesia,”

kata Mote.

Ia menambahkan, sekalipun ada pemerintah negara tertentu yang mencoba menghalangi pimpinan ULMWP demi hubungan baik dengan Indonesia, tidak akan mampu menghadang “people’s power” yang sedang bergulir di Pasifik Selatan.

Mengenai isu dekolonisasi Papua Barat, mantan wartawan Kompas ini mengatakan Pemerintah Kepulauan Solomon berada paling depan.

“Dekolonisasi Papua Barat satu paket perjuangan pembebasan Papua Barat dibawah kepemimpinan negara Solomon Island yg saat ini merupakan ketua MSG,”

terang Mote. (Victor Mambor)

September 6, 2015 at 23:55:16 WP,TJ

September 6, 2015 0

Masalah Papua ada di Pertemuan Internasional Karena ada Pihak NGO Asing

Kompasiana, 4 September 2015 08:35:53 Diperbarui: 14 September 2015 09:08:52

Wakil Menteri Luar Negeri RI A. M Fachir, menghadiri KTT ke-46 forum negara Pasifik atau Pasific Islands Forum (PIF) di Port Moresby, Papua Nugini. Forum ini berlangsung pada tanggal 7-11 September 2015. Pertemuan sendiri membahas isu-isu perikanan, perubahan iklim, kanker serviks, teknologi informasi dan pelanggaran HAM di Papua Barat, dan menyepakati komunike bersama sebagai hasil dari KTT tersebut. Namun dalam pertemuan tersebut Indonesia menyayangkan isu Papua yang dibahas di dalam forum tersebut, menurutnya isu tersebut kini sudah tidak ada lagi di Papua, dan Papua sekarang lebih makmur dan sejahtera, beda dari keadaan Papua yang dulu, isu tersebut hanya di buat-buat oleh pihak Non Goverment Organization (NGO) asing yang tidak bertanggung jawab yang sengaja mengangkat isu tersebut ke pertemuan Internasional.

Masuknya isu pelanggaran HAM di Papua Barat dalam agenda PIF, Indonesia menyayangkan hal ini, mengingat isu tersebut masuk atas desakan berbagai NGO dan bukan merupakan usulan Pemerintah Negara-negara PIF. Indonesia menyampaikan bahwa usulan tersebut tidak sejalan dengan tujuan utama pembentukan PIF, yaitu untuk mendorong kerja sama ekonomi dan pembangunan di kawasan.

Dari hasil pembahasan isu Papua, para Kepala Negara PIF kembali menyatakan dukungannya kepada kedaulatan dan integritas NKRI, termasuk terhadap semua Provinsi Papua. Selain itu, juga diusulkan agar ketua PIF melakukan konsultasi dengan Pemerintah Indonesia termasuk dengan mengirimkan misi pencari fakta PIF ke Papua Barat terkait adanya tuduhan pelanggaran HAM.
Menanggapi pembahasan isu tersebut Indonesia menyampaikan penolakan terhadap “tuduhan pelanggaran HAM di Papua yang tidak berdasar dan merefleksikan pemahaman yang salah terhadap fakta sesungguhnya di Lapangan.

Penolakan terhadap intervensi asing tersebut termasuk usulan adanya misi tim pencari fakta PIF ke Provinsi Papua Barat terkait pelanggaran HAM. Penolakan tersebut didasari karena sebagai negara demokratis, Indonesia sangat menjunjung tinggi supremasi hukum dan penghormatan terhadap HAM. Indonesia memiliki mekanisme HAM Nasional yang berfungsi dengan baik yang belum tentu dimiliki oleh sebagian Negara PIF.

Tidak hanya itu , selain adanya mekanisme HAM Nasional yang baik, Indonesia juga menekankan bahwa pembangunan perekonomian, pendidikan, kesejahteraan di Papua selama ini jauh lebih maju dari sebagian negara kepulauan di Pasifik. Oleh karena sebab itu Indonesia menyayangkan bahwa dalam pembahasan tidak disoroti kemajuan yang telah dicapai di Papua dan jumlah dana pembangunan yang dialokasikan ke Papua untuk pembangunan sosial dan ekonomi.

Pemerintahan Indonesia mempersilahkan jika adanya rencana tim pencari fakta dari PIF yang akan dikirim ke Provinsi Papua Barat, Indonesia tidak akan pernah takut dengan adanya Tim Pencari Fakta PIF, jika mereka datang pasti mereka akan mengetahui sendiri bagaimana keadaan Papua yang sesungguhnya. Perlu diketahui bahwa Indonesia pernah mengundang para pemimpin Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) untuk mengunjungi Papua Barat pada misi pencari fakta. Misi pencarian fakta terjadi pada Januari 2014 dengan tujuan adalah melihat kondisi Papua.

Pemerintahan Indonesia sebagai salah satu mitra wicara bersama Amerika Serikat (AS), Tiongkok, Kuba, Filipina, Italia, Spanyol, India, Inggris, Jepang, Kanada, Korea Selatan (Korsel), Malaysia, Perancis, Thailand, Turki, dan Uni Eropa. Terkhususnya Indonesia, berharap kepada para delegasi PIF agar tidak termakan oleh isu-isu yang tidak bertanggung jawab dari NGO asing yang ingin memperkeruh keadaan demi tujuan tersendiri.(ak)

Selengkapnya : http://www.kompasiana.com/alfredkarafir/masalah-papua-ada-di-pertemuan-internasional-karena-ada-pihak-ngo-asing_55f62479779773f429c8c9ba

September 4, 2015 0

The Muslim occupation of West Papua after Dutch granted independence

The Muslim Issue, How often do we hear how “bad” colonialism was? Whether it is from India, Africa or Papua New Guinea and West Papua we are painted a nightmarish picture of the “wicked white man” who is described to have “destroyed” the countries they ruled. But facts are different to these exaggerated left wing fairy tales of division and racism so common amongst the liberals. They have painted the crusaders, the brave Christian army that sacrificed their own lives to save Europe from Muslim takeover, in the same light.

The story of colonialism is different from natives who actually lived under colonialism. Unlike popular claims by left wingers and their historians, colonialism did far more good than bad and offered protecting of territories from the Muslim threat and other external threats. Read here what happened when the Dutch ‘colonialists’ tried to return Papua to its own people and left the country:

The Dutch colonialists tried to give Papua New Guinea and West Papua their independence back to the natives. There was no wars or attacks on the ‘colonialists’ needed for it and the natives gained their island back by appealing to the UN. The Dutch perfectly willingly decided to give it back to the people.

Note also in the story below that the natives and tribals had been able to live freely, protected, and by their own choice and natural lives in their jungles without interferences from the Dutch at all. So much so that they did not even know much about Dutch rule of their own country until after the Dutch left – quite contrary to the claims left wing writers tend to paint the picture. This testimony is the same one can find in India where many native people did not even know their country had been under British rule because they had never even seen an English man, and never had any interferences from the English into their lives for over three hundred years.

To return independence to this island the Dutch tried to prepare them for the task to avoid a Muslim takeover from neighboring Indonesia. Unfortunately the natives did not listen, grasp or take serious the groundwork the Dutch tried to create for them. Like many colonial societies they benefited from the protection and rule colonialism had given them, and did not imagine things would change drastic without it. West Papua, like the Dutch feared, quickly fell into Muslim hands once they had left and the natives have been living under Muslim oppression, rape, arson, threats and mass murders ever since.

August 2, 2015 0

PNG Prime Minister’s Indonesia visit raises questions over West Papua stance

By DANIEL DRAGESET

Spearhead Group (MSG) meets in New Caledonia to decide if the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation will be granted membership.

Support
The timing of O’Neill’s Indonesia visit has raised questions on Papua New Guinea’s support for West Papua, Radio New Zealand International reports.

O’Neill has stated that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia, but has voiced concern about human rights abuses in West Papua.

Several reports detail torture and abuses against pro-independence activists in West Papua.

Border issues include people from West Papua fleeing to Papua New Guinea.

O’Neill said he looks forward to discussing these issues with Yodhoyono.

“We are encouraged by the invitation from the Indonesian Government, through the president, for the first time in its history asking Papua New Guinea to help in some of those issues in West Papua,” he said.

Consensus
The decision to include the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation in the MSG has received strong support ahead of the upcoming summit with the exception of Papua New Guinea.

Decisions in the MSG are usually reached by consensus. If Indonesia succeeds in lobbying Papua New Guinea, it might persuade the country to refrain from supporting West Papuan inclusion in the MSG, according Radio New Zealand International.

The president of the self-styled republic of West Papua, Forkorus Yaboisembut, made an appeal to MSG, the Pacific Islands Forum and the African, Pacific and Caribbean group of states to recognise his country almost three weeks ago

June 30, 2015 0

Gen. TRWP Mathias Wenda: Syukur Bagimu Ya, Tuhan bangsa dan Tanah Papua

United Liberation Movement for West Papua

Dari Markas Pusat Pertahanan Tentara Revolusi West Papua (MPP-TRWP), atas nama Gen. TRWP Mathias Wenda, dengan ini kami mengucapkan

SYUKUR BAGIMU TUHAN!

karena bangsa Papua kini secara resmi, oleh negera-negara merdeka dan berdaulat di Kepulauan Melanesia di muka Bumi telah mengakui secara resmi bahwa

Orang Papua ras Melanesia bukan sekedar kategorisasi antropologi dan sosial, tetapi adalah sebuah identitas dan realitas sosial-politik pula;
Orang Papua ras Melanesia diterimak sebagai bagian dari Keluarga Besar rumpun ras Melanesia di kawasan Pasifik Selatan; dan
Maka dengan demikian, kini Indonesia dan West Papua duduk di meja MSG sebagai dua bangsa yang sederajad, dua bangsa yang duduk sama rendah dan berdiri sama tinggi, memiliki hak bicara dan hak berpendapat yang sama di dalam sebuah forum negara-negara bangsa di kawasan Pasifik Selatan.

Sebagaimana di berbagai berita di dalam negeri maupun di luar negeri, yang telah terjadi di Vanuatu ialah sebuah “mujizat”, dan oleh karena itu tidak dapat dikleim oleh manusia siapapun, kelompok manapun, organisasi apapun, karena yang terjadi ialah sebuah mujizat karena Allah Pencipta, Pelindung dan Tuhan bangsa Papua menyertai dan turun tangan dalam pertemuan ini. Terbukti Perdana Menteri Solomon Islands sebagai seorang “single iighter” dalam pertemuan ini telah berdiri kokoh membela harkat dan martabatnya sendiri sesuai ciptaan dan kodrat Sang Ilahi sebagai seorang Melanesia, mengabaikan sokongan dan manuver politik penuh muslihat dan tipu daya dari NKRI lewat Presiden Joko Widodo maupun lewat Menteri Luar Negeri-nya.

Perdana Menteri Solomon Islands yang dikira NKRI telah dikantongi NKRI ternyata tidak lupa kodratnya sebagai seorang Melanesia.

Peristiwa ini mari kita sebut sebagai sebuah “Peperangan antara KEBENARAN menentang tipu muslihat” yang berasal dari Iblis, sang penjarah, pencuri dan pembunuh itu, bapa segala pendusta itu.

Atas kemenangan “KEBENARAN” ini, maka kami segenap pejuang kemerdekaan West Papua di Rimba Raya New Guiean menyampaikan

SYUKUR BAGIMU TUHAN!

Demikian pernyataan ini kami sampaikan kepada semua pihak untuk disyukuri dan dirayakan bersama.

Dikeluarkan di: Markas Pusat Pertahanan Tentara Revolusi West Papua

Pada Tanggal: 29 Juni 2015

Hormat kami,

A.n. Panglima Tertinggi Komando Revolusi,

Amunggut Tabi, Lt. Gen. TRWP

BRN: A.001076

June 29, 2015 1

Inside the West Papua Resistance

By Rohan Radheya June 29, 2015

The Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) was first created in the 1960s by a group of comrades who called themselves West Papuan Freedom fighters. The organization was created to fight the Indonesian Army, which had occupied large parts of West Papua after the Dutch colonialists withdrew.

The movement grew rapidly in the late 1970s with fighters joining its ranks in all major provinces of West Papua. Their operations mainly consisted of attacking Indonesian patrols. Over the years it started to carry out more sophisticated attacks on foreign mining companies, such as blowing up pipelines in the Grasberg mine in Freeport.

It carried out assaults on civilian aircrafts in Timika, targeted foreign migrant workers, and kidnapped foreigners and journalists during the infamous Mapenduma incident.

The militant wing of the OPM allegedly had ties to former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddaffi, who had also supplied weapons to the group. Some senior OPM Commanders underwent training in Libya in the 1990s.

The diplomatic wing of the OPM also received support from the government of Senegal in the 1990s and were permitted to open a mission in Dakar.

Today, the military wing has many splinter groups who operate independently.

Some factions have agreed to a truce with the Indonesian government; others continue to wage their guerrilla campaign.

Photojournalist Rohan Radheya was allowed to follow elements of the military wing, visiting their headquarters deep within the jungles of West Papua.

Source: https://thediplomat.com/

June 29, 2015 0

MSG rejects West Papua membership bid

4:48 pm on 29 June 2015, RadioNZNews

The Melanesian Spearhead Group has knocked back West Papua’s bid to become a full member of the group, while elevating Indonesia’s status.

Listen (duration 4′ :48″) Download: Ogg | MP3

Tags: West Papua
Transcript

The Melanesian Spearhead Group has knocked back West Papua’s bid to become a full member of the group, while elevating Indonesia’s status.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua hoped to follow in the footsteps of New Caledonia’s FLNKS in obtaining full MSG membership, without being a sovereign government.

This would have been Papua’s first recognition in an international fora since the region was incorporated into Indonesia.

Koroi Hawkins has more.

“Let us not forget the dreams and wishes of our people to be part of a Melanesian family. The desire of our people for an inclusive MSG. An MSG that is able to stand for what is right in the world, where such values are now struggling to survive.”

It was a passionate speech by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at the opening of the MSG Leaders Summit in Honiara on Wednesday.

One that brought tears to the eyes of the members of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua delegation present and sparked hope in West Papuan Leaders such as Benny Wenda.

“I think his speech is the really amazing ever and I think now its time for the Melanesian leaders to show the world that they can handle this problem because this is the longest struggle, 50 years is enough that’s why it is time for Melanesian leaders to look at this issue and bring West Papua into Melanesia.”

And bring them in they did. But not in the way Benny Wenda or anyone else for that matter had envisioned.

The MSG rejected the ULM bid for membership and instead granted them observer status, with an interesting twist, while elevating Indonesia’s own observer status to that of associate member.

A Solomon Islands academic Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulaka, who is an associate professor at the University of Hawaii’s school of Pacific Island Studies, says the latter decision is the most disappointing for Melanesians.

“Not so much for the fact that West Papua has been admitted only as an observer member but for the fact the Indonesia has been made a member of the MSG. I think thats the big dissappointment. On the other hand the fact that West Papua has been accorded an observer status is a good thing its a step in the right direction.”

But a spokesperson from the Indonesian Embassy in Canberra Sade Bimantara says its associate membership is a positive step for Melanesia.

“We believe that we can contribute to the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Add value to that and also to increase connectivity between people in the Asia Pacific with those Melanesian descendants in Indonesia.

For the ULM however there is only gratitude for what Benny Wenda describes simply as recognition.

“You know 53 years we, our voice never recognised and in the regional and international fora so this is why this is the first step for West Papua to become an observer in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.”

But the observer status comes with conditions that say the ULMWP is representing West Papuans outside of West Papua. A clause Dr Kabutaulaka says ignores the representative status already held by the ULM.

“To imply that it only represents people outside West Papua is in a way say that, you know, it is not really a legitimate representation of West Papuans and therefore when it comes to serious discussions it could be disregarded.”

And this was raised by Indonesia delegation in Honiara right off the bat according to Papua based journalist, Victor Mambor who was in Honiara for the summit.

Reading from an Indonesian statement released in response to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s speech in acceptance of its observer status, Victor Mambor said Indonesia rejected the ULM’s allegations of human rights abuses in West Papua as well as the ULM’s claim that it represented the people of West Papua.

“Listening to the statement of the observer calling itself ULMWP, I wonder if their participation in the MSG will contribute to its noble causes and principles. We categorically reject all these unfounded and false allegations made against the government of Indonesia.”

But Benny Wenda says to him the clause is irrelevant given the make up of the ULM and the extent to which the group has gone to make sure it was representative of the people of West Papua.

“They chose us as a leader of speaking out on behalf of people of West Papua. And this is representing people inside and outside which some of them live in exile, so we are representing people of West Papua.”

The full extent of the decisions made by MSG Leaders in Honiara this week are yet to play out in the region but a contrast can be taken in comparing the reactions of the two parties concerned.

First Indonesia.

“Indonesia is populated by about 253 million people. So this is a potential large market access for citizens of MSG. So if we can work together you know to increase our economic ties and development I think we can enhance the prosperity of our peoples.”

And secondly West Papua.

“We United Liberation Movement to pursue another further push to full membership. That is what we will fight for next step.

June 29, 2015 0

Indonesia is Associate Member, West Papua Observer in MSG

Vanuatu Daily Post – By Godwin Ligo Jun 27, 2015

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has accepted the United Liberal Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) as Observer in the regional organisation on the basis that it represents West Papuans living outside West Papua.

According to international media, that was the announcement made yesterday by the MSG Chair, Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

The MSG Chair also announced that Associate Membership was accorded to Indonesia who is representing “the five Melanesian provinces in Indonesia”.

That was the decision of the leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group at the MSG Summit in Solomon Islands that ended yesterday.

Indonesia will be represented in MSG by the governors of the five provinces in West Papua.

The ULMWP application for full membership in MSG was held back.

While Vanuatu was the beacon of hope for West Papua in the world in the past, at this stage the people of Vanuatu do not know how Vanuatu voted at the MSG in the bid for ULMWP’s application for full membership.

But in a statement released by the Office of the Prime Minister yesterday, it stated that the United Liberation Movement for West Papua representatives have expressed appreciation to Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders in an address to the MSG Plenary on Friday.

The Vanuatu Prime Minister, Sato Kilman, who did not attend the MSG meeting following the political situation in the country stated: “The 20th Summit ended on Friday 26th with a Plenary which also saw addresses from newly admitted Associate members Indonesia, and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua as Observers.

“In a much-anticipated communiqué which was signed by Leaders on Thursday evening at the Mendana Hotel in Honiara, among other important decisions, Leaders approved that ULMWP be admitted as an Observer to the MSG under the regional and international organizations category and representing Melanesians living abroad.

“In addition, leaders also approved that Associate membership be accorded to Indonesia who will also be representing the five Melanesian Provinces in Indonesia.

“These two decisions were arguably quite historical as well as progressive in their own right, rendering the MSG as a platform for greater dialogue between the Government of Indonesia and the ULMWP.

“In his address to the plenary on Friday morning, representative of the ULMWP expressed their appreciation to leaders for endorsing their bid for membership and for their unification under the ULMWP umbrella which was made possible under the auspices of the Government, the Chiefs, Church Leaders and people of Vanuatu.

“It is important to note that the Vanuatu Government’s strong stance, support and advocacy for self-determination for all indigenous peoples and the universal principles of human rights which all MSG members subscribe to have been instrumental in the inclusion of La Couse Kanak and now West Papua in the agenda of the MSG, and for the inclusion of the FLNKS representing the Kanak people of New Caledonia, and now ULMWP the people of West Papua.

“To that end, the Vanuatu Government wishes to congratulate both the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) and the Government of Indonesia for choosing the MSG as a conduit or platform whereupon they may dialogue and in reconciling any differences.

“The spirit of the MSG and the Melanesian way encourages closer dialogue cooperation and the spirit of comradeship and collegiality and in a reconciliatory manner than confrontational.

“Leaders of the MSG, including Vanuatu, therefore encourage the ULMWP and the Government of Indonesia to make the most the space and opportunity rendered by their inclusion in the MSG for dialogue and in a reconciliatory and progressive manner.

“This is a position which the Government of the day will rally behind and support to be more pragmatic and progressive, as opposed to a confrontational approach.

“The 20th MSG Leaders’ Summit also saw the signing of a myriad of documents and declarations which included, the Agreement Establishing the MSG (Revised 2015), the Declaration on the MSG 2038 Property for All Plan and implementation Framework. Agreement Establishing the Regional Police Academy (RPA), Legislative Framework Agreement of the Formed Police Unit (FPU), Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Humanitarian and Emergency Response Cooperation Center (HERCC), Melanesian Declaration on the Transshipment of Nuclear Waste and Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous Waste (previously the 1995 Lakatoro Declaration on Denuclearization on the Pacific), Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Technical Cooperation in Coastal and Aquaculture Development between members of the MSG, and the MSG Roadmap for inshore Fisheries Management and Sustainable Development.

“The leaders also considered and endorsed a paper on Recovery Support for Vanuatu in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Pam which would comprise pledges of support in areas identified in the recently concluded National Recovery Plan, and on a bilateral basis ,” the statement ended and signed by the Vanuatu Prime Minister Sato Kilman.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Vanuatu Christian Council, Bishop James Ligo, told the Daily Post that the VCC accepts the decision by the MSG leaders in granting West Papua an Observer status in the MSG as a first step.

At the same time he questions the granting of Associate Member to Indonesia.

However, the VCC Chairman said, the VCC will continue to put pressure on the MSG for eventual full membership of West Papua under ULMWP into the MSG.

ligo@dailypost.vu

June 27, 2015 0

PM not attending but appoints special envoy to MSG

Vanuatu Daily Post – By Godwin Ligo Jun 26, 2015

Vanuatu’s position on West Papua application and other important regional issues will be known at the end of the MSG Summit, according to reliable sources within the Government.

Reliable sources within the Government have confirmed that the Government has appointed a Special Prime Minister’s Envoy to the MSG Meeting in Honiara.

He is the Prime Minister’s Office, Director General (DG), Johnson Naviti, but the Daily Post also understands that the DG Naviti will travel to Honiara to convey the Vanuatu Government’s decisions to the meeting.

The Government’s stand on the issue of West Papua application for full MSG membership and other important regional issues will be made known only at the end of the MSG heads of government summit, which ends tomorrow with plenary and closing ceremony.

The outcome of the West Papua application for MSG full membership is expected to be made known publicly from Honiara, Solomon Islands, later today, Vanuatu time.

The decision by the MSG leaders will be made during the MSG Heads of Governments during their Retreat today, according to reliable government source in Port Vila.

It is expected to be made known through a Communiqué to be issued by the MSG officials in Honiara late today.

The Daily Post understands that Vanuatu Prime Minister nor other ministers could be present at the MSG 20th Summit, 2015, because of the current political situation in the country involving court cases; first the Constitutional Case involving Speaker’s decision to close the First Ordinary Session of Parliament when the Opposition sponsored motion against Prime Minister Sato Kilman, was not debated and the bribery case that has been moved by Court for hearing next month.

The West Papua application for full membership into the MSG has been one of the main issues of concern by the churches, the chiefs and other civil societies in Vanuatu and around the Pacific region and beyond prior to and over the period of the MSG 20th Summit 2015 in Honiara this week.

The Vanuatu Christian Council have aired their stand on the issue for and on behalf of all churches and Christian ministries in the country earlier this week while the Malvatumauri Council of Chiefs made a final call on the Vanuatu Government to vote for West Papua full membership in a statement published in the Daily Post yesterday.

Shortly, the outcome will be made known and it will most likely show what Vanuatu’s stand is on the West Papua Application for full membership into the MSG.

Since its election, the new government has not officially cleared its position on the United Liberal Movement of West Papua’s application to be a full member of the MSG.

ligo@dailypost.vu

June 26, 2015 0