MSG membership for United Liberation Movement for West Papua postponed on legal technicality

Posted: July 15, 2016 | Author: dailyvanuatu | Filed under: The Daily Digest

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ meeting, currently being held in Honiara, Solomon Islands, yesterday deferred its decision to welcome the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) as a full member of MSG until another meeting planned for Port Vila in September. The MSG says this decision was taken as the wording of MSG’s rules for membership needs to be clarified to give ULMWP, a liberation movement, the same membership status as MSG founding member (and fellow liberation movement), Front de libération nationale kanak et socialiste (FLNKS) of New Caledonia.

MSG associate, Indonesia, the colonial occupier of West Papua, opposes ULMWP joining the MSG, and is currently supported by only two out of the five founding members of MSG, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

The majority of the founding members of MSG – Vanuatu, FLNKS and Solomon Islands – support full membership for the West Papua liberation movement, as do the majority of the population of all MSG countries.

PNG PM Peter O’Neill, who has been a vocal supporter of Indonesia, is currently fighting for his political life as his government faces a vote of no-confidence in PNG’s parliament.

O’Neill has also come under attack from former Prime Minister of PNG, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, for opposing West Papuan independence in defiance of the overwhelming support of PNG’s people for the decolonisation of the other half of the island of New Guinea, where he says “our ancestors roamed freely over our shared land and sea for centuries prior to colonial and Christian interventions”.

Here’s the full text of the MSG’s statement on the decision:

Leaders agreed to defer the consideration of the application for full membership by ULMWP until membership criteria and guidelines are further developed by the Sub-Committee on Legal and Institutional Issues (SCLII), considering fundamental principles, political aspirations, and principles of international law and to be completed end of September 2016.

Leaders did not reach consensus and directed the SCLII to undertake further review on:

(i) the revised application Procedures, Criteria, and Participatory Rights and Obligations of an Observer and an Associate Member to the MSG.

(ii) the new membership guidelines for full membership to the MSG.

Leaders agreed to meet in Port Vila, Vanuatu before the end of September 2016.

July 19, 2016 0

Local WP activists: We will not back down

SolomonStarNews.com, Published: 18 July 2016

LOCAL West Papua activists in the country said they will not back down in their move to see West Papua included in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The group made the stand after the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) deferred the United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s (ULMWP) application for full membership in their recent meeting in Honiara, last week.

They said, they shared similar thoughts raised by the spokesperson of the ULMWP Benny Wenda, that this could be seen as a delayed tactic.

“We will not back down.

“We will continue to fight for our Melanesian brothers and sisters until they are members of the MSG,” the group told the Solomon Star, after the outcome of the MSG’s decision last week.

Last week, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Special Leaders Summit agreed to defer the consideration of the application for full membership by the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP).

It was reported that the delay was agreed to until membership criteria and guidelines are further developed by the Sub-Committee on Legal and Institutional Issues (SCLII), considering fundamental principles, political aspirations, and principles of international law and to be completed end of September 2016.

Leaders did not reach consensus and directed the SCLII to undertake further review on:

(i) the revised application Procedures, Criteria, and Participatory Rights and Obligations of an Observer and an Associate Member to the MSG.

(ii) the new membership guidelines for full membership to the MSG.

However, the membership application will now be considered at a special MSG meeting to be held in Vanuatu in September.

A peaceful rally staged in Honiara last week also attracted up to 3,000 people.

By RONALD TOITO’ONA

July 18, 2016 0

Honiara MSG Leaders’ Summit Ends with Approval of Various Key Resolutions

By PM Press – July 15, 2016

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Special Leaders’ Summit in Honiara concluded yesterday with the reaching of a number of key decisions on issues of interest to the Melanesian sub-regional bloc.

The meeting was chaired by the Solomon Islands Prime Minister, Hon Manasseh Sogavare and leaders in attendance included Prime Minister, Hon Frank Bainimarama of Fiji, Prime Minister, Hon Charlot Salwai of the Republic of Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister, Hon Rimbink Pato and Spokesman of New Caledonia’s Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS), Mr Victor Tutugoro.

The key decisions reached were based on issues of discussion were submitted by the MSG pre-summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) also held in Honiara one day ahead of the Leaders’ Summit and they are as follows:

Approval of the appointment of the former Fiji diplomat, Ambassador Amena Yauvoli as Director General of the MSG Secretariat;
Approval in principle the establishment of the Police Ministers’ Meeting, noting the need for further consultation by some members;
Directing of the MSG Secretariat to expand the consultation process on the MSG Humanitarian and Emergency Response Coordinating Centre (HERCC) and identify cost implications of consultations on the HERCC and also the Sub-Committee on Security to meet and formulate the HERCC Regional Response Strategy and Action Plan;
Deferral of the consideration of application for full MSG membership by the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) until membership criteria and guidelines are further developed by the Sub-Committee on Legal and Institutional issues, considering fundamental principles, political aspirations and principles of international law and to be completed before end of September 2016;
Approval of the dissolution of the Melanesian Solutions Limited (MSL), the business arm of MSG;
Tasking of the Interim MSL Board to reimburse the shareholders’ contribution in consultation with the MSG Secretariat;
Tasking of the MSG Secretariat to report back to the members on the actions undertaken;
Noting of an update by the FLNKS on behalf of the FLNKS and the New Caledonian Government regarding the Melanesian Games and regretfully informed members of their inability to host the Games in October 2016;
Thanking of the MSG FMM Chair, Hon Milner Tozaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands of the Report of the FMM that was held on 13^th July 2016 at the Heritage Park Hotel in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The Leaders did not reach consensus and directed the Sub-Committee on Legal and Institutional Issues to undertake further review on the Revised Application Procedures, Criteria and Participatory Rights and Obligations of an Observer and an Associate Member to the MSG appended as Annex I and the New Membership Guidelines for Full Membership to the MSG appended Annex II;
Agreeing on the Trade Ministers’ Meeting Report of May 2016 as tabled by the TMM Chair, Hon Milner Tozaka, Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands. They congratulated Hon Tozaka and the MSG Trade Ministers for their meeting outcome in concluding negotiations on the new MSG Trade Agreement;
Agreeing to fulfill respective national processes in member countries before signing the MSG Free Trade Agreement; and
Agreeing that they meet in Port Vila, Vanuatu before end of September 2016.

The two-day Leaders’ summit programme was compounded into a one-day event, as Prime Minister Bainimarama had to return to Fiji early to attend a national event requiring his presence.

July 18, 2016 0

Surat Dukungan Untuk Papua dari Pesisir Yogyakarta untuk Perjuangan Rakyat Papua

By Muhammad Afandi | Juli 18, 2016
578 shares

Pernyataan Sikap dan Solidaritas
Paguyuban Petani Lahan Pantai Kulon Progo (PPLP KP)
Wahana Tri Tunggal (WTT)

Untuk Papua

Menanggapi aksi kekerasan aparat keamanan negara dan organisasi kemasyarakatan (ormas) reaksioner terhadap warga Papua di Yogyakarta yang terjadi beberapa hari ini, kami warga PPLP KP dan WTT menyatakan sikap:

Warga dan mahasiswa Papua di Yogyakarta selama ini telah bersolidaritas mendukung perjuangan PPLP KP dan WTT dalam menolak tambang pasir besi dan rencana pembangunan bandara di tempat kami (Kulon Progo), sehingga terkait dengan aksi kekerasan yang menimpa warga Papua di Yogyakarta, kami merasa perlu melakukan solidaritas kepada mereka.
PPLP KP dan WTT mengecam tindakan kekerasan aparat keamanan negara dan ormas-ormas reaksioner terhadap mahasiswa Papua di Yogyakarta. Kami warga (PPLP KP dan WTT) yang juga pernah mengalami kekerasan serupa dan bahkan dikriminalisasi oleh negara karena berjuang mempertahankan ruang hidup sangat bisa merasakan bahwa kekerasan terhadap warga dan mahasiswa Papua tidak bisa dibenarkan demi kemanusiaan.
Bahwa apa yang diperjuangkan oleh mahasiswa Papua, kami menilai ialah kebebasan berpendapat untuk menentukan nasibnya sendiri dalam alam demokrasi. Maka, kami menilai, aksi kekerasan yang dilakukan oleh aparat keamanan negara dan ormas-ormas reaksioner terhadap mahasiswa Papua ialah tindakan pembungkaman terhadap kebebasan berpendapat sekaligus kebebasan untuk menentukan nasib secara merdeka.
Sebagai warga yang sama-sama sedang memperjuangkan kemerdekaan dari kesewenang-wenangan dan ketidakadilan yang dilakukan oleh negara, kami mendukung perjuangan mahasiswa Papua, sekaligus mengajak semua kelompok warga lain yang sedang memperjuangkan kemerdekaan hidup untuk saling bergandeng tangan melawan kesewenang-wenangan tersebut.

Kulon Progo, 17 Juli 2016

July 18, 2016 0

Kapolri Diminta Jelaskan Soal Insiden Mahasiswa Papua di Yogyakarta

Monday, 18 July 2016, 19:28 WIB, Rep: Qommarria Rostanti/ Red: Bilal Ramadhan

nggota polisi berjaga saat aksi tolak OPM di depan Asrama Mahasiswa Papua, DI Yogyakarta, Jumat (15/7).

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Sejak setahun terakhir, warga negara Indonesia asal Papua dinilai mengalami kekerasan berlanjut. Hal tersebut lantaran pelarangan menyampaikan aspirasi melalui demonstrasi dan kebebasan berekspresi lainnya.

Kejadian terakhir adalah peristiwa di Yogyakarta pada Jumat (15/7). Direktur Riset Setara Institute Ismail Hasani mengatakan, demonstrasi adalah bentuk kebebasan berekspresi apa pun tema yang disampaikannya.

Bahkan, aspirasi pembebasan Papua juga sah untuk disampaikan dalam sebuah demonstrasi sebagai bentuk protes atas ketidakadilan yang dialami oleh warga Papua.

“Selama demonstrasi itu disampaikan secara damai dan tidak adanya tindakan permulaan yang menunjukkan adanya makar maka polisi apalagi ormas tidak boleh membatasi, melarang, dan menghakimi dengan kekerasan,” ujarnya dalam keterangan pers yang diterima Republika.co.id, Jumat (18/7).

Ismail mengatakan, penggunaan ormas tertentu atau pembiaran ormas dalam menghadapi aspirasi masyarakat yang berbeda adalah modus lama yang ditujukan untuk membersihkan tangan polisi sebagai aparat keamanan.

Dengan melibatkan atau membiarkan ormas, maka polisi terhindari dari tuduhan melakukan kekerasan. “Padahal, membiarkan seseorang atau ormas melakukan kekerasan adalah tindakan pelanggaran HAM (violation by omission–Red),” kata pengajar hukum tata negara di Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta ini.

Menurut dia, Kapolri Tito Karnavian harus menjelaskan peristiwa di Yogyakarta secara gamblang agar kepercayaan publik tidak segera luntur di masa kepemimpinannya. Ismail menyebut Tito mempunyai pandangan agak konservatif perihal pembatasan HAM, seperti dalam kasus teorisme.

“Tetapi, membiarkan tindakan kekerasan terus-menerus terhadap warga Papua adalah tindakan pelanggaran HAM dan bertentangan dengan semangat Jokowi yang berkali-kali menegaskan hendak mengatasi persoalan Papua secara holistik,” ujarnya.

Polri harus bertindak adil dengan menghukum anggota ormas yang melakukan kekerasan. Menurut Ismail, apa pun argumen ormas tersebut, baik rasialisme, ujaran kebencian, dan kekerasan telah secara nyata diperagakan. Tindakan main hakim sendiri (vigilantisme) adalah pelanggaran hukum.

July 18, 2016 0

Papuan students in Yogyakarta attacked by Indonesian police and militia

Reported by AMP Yogyakarta 18^th July 2016

20-year-old student Obi Kogoya attacked by Indonesian police and militia on 15th July outside the boarding house Yogyakarta

Indonesian police and civilian reactionary groups stormed a boarding house for Papuan students in Yogyakarta on Friday. The State-Owned Papuan Dormotory at Kusumanegara Road, Kamasan I was besieged in the early morning of 15^th July when mobile brigades (Brimob) of special forces officers forced their way through the back gate of the dormitory and caused extensive damage to student property. After entering the premises, they destroyed and sabotaged a number of motorcycles while other police surrounded the dormitory and blocked all access to the building. Students were forbidden from entering or moving about the premises, while Red Cross workers and local residents were restricted from providing relief for the students.

This action comes at a time when Papuan students in Yogyakarta had planned to stage a peaceful rally in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) bid to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). The students also demanded West Papuan self-determination to be implemented by the Indonesian government as the best solution for resolving ongoing conflicts in the troubled province, and to demonstrate to the rest of the world a genuine regard for democratic principles.

The rally was organised by Persatuan Rakyat Untuk Pembebasan Papua Barat (People United for Free West Papua PRPPB)

Hundreds of Indonesian police ready to attack Papuan students boarding house on Friday 15th July 2016

An international spokesperson of the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP), Yely Wenda, witnessed the incident from inside the besieged building. Mr Wenda insisted that hundreds of police and armed civilians had arrived at the boarding house by 7 am and “that we were targeted and treated as though we were terrorists. There was absolutely no logic whatsoever for the Indonesian security forces to act the way they did. It was very embarrassing to see them act stupidly like this”

According to Wenda, police officers were sweeping several access points to the road leading toward Papua dormitory, and blocking and detaining any person entering or leaving the property. As many as fifteen students were arrested simply on account of their desire to enter their own property. One 20-year-old student was detained by the police on the street outside of the dormitory before being brutally tortured. The student, Obi Kogoya, had his jaw forcefully opened by police and militia, and is now in a critical condition at a local hospital.

In addition to the violence being perpetrated by police and militia, civilian groups conducted a demonstration attacking the Papuans’ message of independence. These groups were well-armed and protected by a throng of Indonesian security forces, and displayed a banner that stated their willingness to die in defending their “unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia”.

The President of the Papuan Students’ Association, Aris Yeimo, told BBC Indonesia that 60 to 70 students remain locked inside the building all day and unable to leave the premises. When asked why the dormitory was besieged by the police, Mr Yeimo insisted he had no idea why security forces acted in such an intimidating manner and that these kinds of confrontations are not uncommon. Incidents towards Papuans – such as this one – may occur as often as several times a month, everywhere Papuans live.

Police representatives have a clearer understanding about the justification for these kinds of actions. The Yogyakarta City Police Chief, Kombes Tommy Wibisono, asserts that pacification action such as this need to be carried out when demands for Papuan independence undermines national stability and promotes “social unrest”. However, Aris Yeimo insists that the current action against students has little to do with calls for Papuan independence, but rather because of the perceived threat they pose to the national integrity of the archipelago.

Veronica Koman from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) in Jakarta has condemned the brutality of the police and demanded that security forces and their civilian paramilitary counterparts must not take the law into their own hands. This assertion applies not only to the current situation in Yogyakarta, but to other parts of the country as well.

Yely Wenda has appealed to Pacific Islands nations for moral support and to put pressure on Indonesia as an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to refrain from utilising these kinds of pressures on local Papuan students.

Further information, please contact:

Yamin Kogoya

0477785680

kogoyay@gmail.com

Papuan student at the Australian National University Canberra-Australia

Yely Wenda

+6281344666626

aringgiklod@gmail.com

An International spokesperson of Papuan Student Alliance in Yogyakarta-Indonesia

20-year-old student Obi Kogoya attacked by Indonesian police and militia on 15^th July outside the boarding house Yogyakarta.

Hundreds of Indonesian police ready to attack Papuan students boarding house on Friday 15^th July 2016

July 18, 2016 1

ULMWP Menerima Keputusan MSG

Penulis: Eben E. Siadari 20:59 WIB | Senin, 18 Juli 2016

HONIARA, SATUHARAPAN.COM – Kelompok yang menamakan diri sebagai Gerakan Persatuan Pembebasan Papua Barat atau United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) mengatakan pihaknya menerima keputusan organisasi sub-regional, Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), yang menunda pemberian status anggota penuh kepada mereka.

Juru Bicara ULMWP, Benny Wenda, mengatakan, kendati ada pihak yang menganggap ini merupakan taktik mengulur-ulur waktu, pihaknya mengakui para pemimpin dan pejabat MSG lebih menyoroti isu-isu teknis.

Pada KTT MSG Kamis lalu para pemimpin MSG telah sepakat untuk menunda menyetujui aplikasi ULMWP untuk mendapatkan keanggotaan penuh, sampai kriteria dan pedoman keanggotaan MSG dikembangkan lebih lanjut.

“Kami ingin berterima kasih kepada para pemimpin Melanesia dan kepada ketua serta Perdana Menteri Kepulauan Solomon yang telah membahas dan memfasilitasi aplikasi bagi keanggotaan penuh. Walaupun kecewa, kami tetap optimistis aplikasi kami akan dibahas lagi pada bulan September di Port Vila, Vanuatu,” kata dia, sebagaimana diberitakan oleh solomonstarsnews.com.

Ia mengatakan masalah yang disorot oleh para pemimpin MSG bersifat teknis, dan ULMWP berharap aplikasi itu dibahas pada bulan September.

“Kami menyerukan kepada rakyat kami di Papua, keluarga Melanesia dan Pasifik kami, dan pendukung global untuk melihat keputusan ini bukan kekalahan tetapi sebagai kemajuan untuk peningkatan proses di dalam MSG,”

kata dia.

Wenda mengucapkan terima kasih kepada rakyat Papua dan Pasifik atas dukungan yang besar, dan menekankan perlunya dukungan lainnya menuju KTT khusus pemimpin MSG September mendatang.

“Kami, ULMWP, tidak akan melangkah sampai sejauh ini jika bukan untuk rakyat akar rumput dan dukungan pemimpin Pasifik dan kami menyerukan dukungan lebih karena kami bekerja menuju pembentukan suara politik bagi rakyat kami dari Papua,”

kata dia.

Sementara itu Ketua MSG, Manasseh Sogavare, mengatakan proses untuk pemberian status anggota penuh kepada ULMWP belum usai.

Menurut dia, tertundanya pemberian status keanggotaan itu terkait dengan isu legal.

Oleh karena itu, Sub Komite Hukum dan Institusi MSG bekerja keras untuk meninjau dan mengubah persyaratan keanggotaan MSG.

Menurut dia, KTT khusus MSG di Vanuatu pada bulan Desember akan kembali membahas permohonan ULMWP.

“Ini belum selesai,” kata dia, sebagaimana disiarkan oleh Solomon Islands Broadcastiong Corporation.

Ia berharap Sub Komite MSG sudah menyelesaikan kriteria itu pada bulan September mendatang.

Beberapa hal yang akan ditinjau dan dirumuskan lagi oleh Sub Komite itu adalah mengenai prinsip-prinsip dasar, aspirasi politik dan prinsip-prinsip hukum internasional.

Namun, Indonesia yang selama ini menolak keberadaan ULMWP sebagai perwakilan rakyat Papua, dengan tegas mengatakan tidak ada tempat bagi ULMWP di MSG.

“Tidak ada tempat bagi ULMWP di masa mendatang di MSG,” kata ketua delegasi RI ke KTT Honiara, Desra Percaya.

Namun dia mengakui bahwa KTT bersepakat untuk membahas lebih lanjut pedoman keanggotaan yang akan diselesaikan pada September 2016 di Port Vila, Vanuatu.

“Tentunya hal tersebut dilakukan dengan menghormati prinsip-prinsip hukum internasional yang mengatur hubungan antar negara, utamanya penghormatan terhadap kedaulatan, non-intervensi terhadap urusan dalam negeri negara lain sebagaimana tertuang dalam Persetujuan Pembentukan MSG,”

kata Desra Percaya.

Editor : Eben E. Siadari

July 18, 2016 0

Supporting sustainable development through trade, transport facilitation and port efficiency

Pina News – 8:22 pm GMT+12, 17/07/2016, Fiji

Reducing the cost and improving the quality of logistics and transport systems improves international market access and leads directly to increased trade and trade competitiveness.

Trade development is key to improving economic growth, employment creation and addressing economic disparities between urban and remote rural outer-island communities in Pacific Island countries and territories.

A five-day workshop on trade, transport facilitation and port efficiency begins today in Nadi, Fiji, which aims to assist Pacific Island countries in the process of ratifying and implementing the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) and develop tools to assess and improve trade facilitation and transport logistics in the Pacific.

The regional workshop is organised by the Pacific Community (SPC) and jointly supported by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

“Through this workshop, participants will be advised on the amendments to the Annex of the FAL Convention adopted by the IMO’s FAL Committee in April 2016, with a view to ensure that it adequately addresses the present and emerging needs of the shipping industry as well as the modernisation of its provisions,” IMO’s Head of Facilitation at the Maritime Safety Division, Julian Abril, said.

Inadequate trade-related infrastructure and supply chain bottlenecks are the primary determinants of trade costs whereby reducing them by half, would raise global trade by an estimated 15 percent and global production by five percent.

Improvements in trade facilitation and port efficiency could bring USD 250 billion in additional trade for Asia and the Pacific region.

For every dollar of assistance provided to support trade facilitation reform in developing countries, there is a return of up to USD 70 in economic benefits.

ADB’s Director General for the Pacific Department, Xianbin Yao, underscores the importance of enhancing connectivity and reducing transport logistics costs in the Pacific.

“We are working with Pacific developing member countries to identify inter-island transport logistics bottlenecks; and we are confident that ADB’s trade and transport facilitation in the Pacific technical assistance being financed by the Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction will be able to produce a long term transport plan,” Xianbin Yao said.

“We believe it will boost trade competitiveness and eventually add significant value to the islands’ economies and support inclusive and sustainable development,” he added.

The workshop will also feature an Expert Group meeting that will focus on measures to enhance maritime connectivity in the Pacific region.

“In essence, sustainable development calls for balanced and integrated policy making, and effective means of transportation remain a critical cross-cutting enabler for achieving progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” Head of UNESCAP Pacific Office, Iosefa Maiava, said.

“The workshop provides an opportunity to also share country experiences to inform sub-regional and national level implementation plans for improving maritime connectivity,” Maiava added.

SPC’s Deputy Director Transport, Thierry Nervale, said that “trade facilitation and port efficiency require a major effort in terms of coordination and cooperation between all national agencies involved in transport that will have an impact in the country’s regional economic integration and in return support economic development.”

Nervale also highlighted the partnership between SPC, IMO, ADB and UNESCAP to deliver the workshop and future technical assistance to Pacific Island countries to achieve their objective of sustainable development through trade and transport facilitation.

Officials from ministries responsible for trade and transport, port authorities and customs from 14 Pacific Island countries are attending the workshop which concludes on 22 July.

Media contacts:Sitalingi Payne, Maritime Port Security Adviser, sitalingip@spc.int or +679 337 9296

Samantha Naidu, SPC Research & Information Assistant, samanthan@spc.int or +679 337 9258

July 17, 2016 0

Vanuatu says West Papua Let down By MSG

PinaNews – 10:24 pm GMT+12, 14/07/2016, Vanuatu

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai says the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has failed the people of West Papua.

The MSG last night deferred a decision on awarding full membership to the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) until a new meeting can be held in September.

The delay is meant to allow the MSG Secretariat to further develop its membership criteria.

“Vanuatu gravely regrets the deferral of the admission of ULMWP on the matter of criteria, a clear sign that officials and the secretariat fell short in carrying out their duties consistent with the fundamental founding principles of this eminent organisation for Melanesians,” said Prime Minister Salwai.

Vanuatu led the push to have the ULMWP’s status upgraded, despite stiff opposition from Indonesia which said such a move would undermine its national sovereignty.

“Vanuatu has always believed that other Melanesians are ready to be admitted into the MSG family,” says Salwai. “Vanuatu is adamant that being Melanesians, they should not be subject to any form of criteria.”

The Prime Minister has offered to host Melanesian leaders in September to ensure the issue is finally tackled.

SOURCE: PASIFK NEWS/PACNEWS

July 17, 2016 0

ULMWP accepts MSG decision and calls for greater support of West Papua

BY: Anonymous 16:00, July 17, 2016, Pacific Loop

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) remains positive despite the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s (MSG) decision to defer its application for full membership.

ULMWP spokesperson, Benny Wenda, said this could be seen as a delay tactic but ULMWP acknowledges the technical issues highlighted by the leaders and senior officials of the MSG.

The MSG special leaders’ summit on July 14, in the Solomon Islands, had agreed to defer the consideration of the application for full membership by ULMWP until membership criteria and guidelines are further developed.

“We want to thank our Melanesian leaders and the chair and Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands for discussing and facilitating our application for full membership. Though disappointed, we remain optimistic to see our application further discussed in September in Port Vila, Vanuatu,” said Wenda.

“We call on our West Papuan people, our Melanesian and Pacific families, and global supporters to view the current decision of our leaders not as defeat but as progress to improving processes within the MSG.”

Wenda thanked the people of West Papua and the Pacific for the tremendous support, stressing the need for more support within Melanesia and the Pacific as MSG works towards September’s special leaders’ summit in Vanuatu.

“We the ULMWP would not come this far if it wasn’t for the grassroots and Pacific leadership support and we call for more support as we work towards establishing a political voice for our people of West Papua.”

ULMWP secretary general, Octovianus Mote, added that West Papuans are Melanesians and our issues of human rights abuse and self-determination must be rightfully addressed in the Pacific and not on Indonesia’s terms.

(Solomon Islands solidarity for West Papua marching the streets of Honiara during the MSG meet last week.)

July 17, 2016 0