West Papuans arrested for supporting ULMWP

8:42 pm GMT+12, 14/07/2016, Solomon Islands

Reports of arrests of West Papuans by Indonesian security forces have increased in numbers since Thursday, as many gathered in anticipation of the Melanesian Spearhead Group decision on the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) membership.

Reports from inside West Papua confirmed that 348 arrests since were made.

ULMWP Secretary General, Octovianus Mote, confirmed the 348 arrests, saying West Papuans simply wanted to celebrate the outcome of the MSG Special Leaders Summit’s decision on ULMWP membership application.

“Most of these West Papuans are youth and they just want to express their freedom and right to association…but many were arrested.”

Mote said this is Indonesia’s clamp down on West Papuans who support ULMWP will only impose fear among the people.

He said most arrests were done in Timika, Jayapura, Merauke, Nabire, and Yahukimo. “Just to confirm that these arrests were done while more Melanesians in Fiji, PNG, Kanaky, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands joined in solidarity to support us.”

Pacific solidarity movements for West Papua are calling on Melanesian leaders’ to recognise ULMWP and not to shy away from their responsibility as Melanesian leaders.

The call for West Papua’s political recognition at the MSG through ULMWP has been supported by solidarity movements in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and Kanaky (New Caledonia).

With representatives from respective West Papua movements in Melanesia, over 3000 people marched the streets of Honiara in a peaceful demonstration yesterday morning, while the MSG leaders convened the special leaders summit.

Chairman of the PNG Union for Free West Papua, Kenn Mondiai, reminded the PNG delegation present at the summit that it was the advice of Prime Minister Peter O’Neill in 2012 that the ULMWP was asked organise itself before seeking membership to MSG.

“In 2014 MSG granted Observer status to ULMWP. So Papua New Guinea must be true to its word and recognize its brothers and sisters from West Papua for they are Melanesian and they are family,” urged Mondiai.

“I call on Prime Minister Pete O’Neill and Minister Rimbink Pato to reserve their economic relations with Indonesia and consider humanity, our Melanesian cultural and connection to our West Papuan family,” said Mondiai

SOURCE: PACNEWS

July 14, 2016 0

Melanesian Leaders Defer West Papua Decision

By Adam Boland – pasifik.news

Melanesian leaders have deferred making a decision about elevating the diplomatic status of the West Papua independence movement until September.

Vanuatu pushed hard for the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) to be given full membership of regional economic body, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai told the MSG summit in Honiara that Melanesia should stand as one.

But that was always going to be a challenge with Fiji and Papua New Guinea worried about the impact on the sovereignty of Indonesia. The West Papua region is part of Indonesian territory.

“Simply put, the ULMWP is no more than a separatist group that has no place in the MSG’s future,” says Indonesia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Desra Percaya.

With Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama leaving the summit early and PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill missing it completely to focus on political troubles at home, it became clear a breakthrough would not be reached.

Senior Indonesian diplomat Sade Bimantara took to Twitter to declare the issue dead.

But Victor Yeimo from the West Papua National Committee says the deferral will simply give leaders more time to consider the criteria for membership.

“Our application was postponed to the next special summit before September. That will be done in Vanuatu,” he said. “The reasons for delays are due to the definition of ‘new members’, that has not formulated properly to ensure ULMWP’s application will be accepted.”

Mr Yeimo thanked Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands for their vocal support and hopes it will create new momentum leading up to September.

July 14, 2016 0

Demo Damai Dukung ULMWP ke MSG Pindah Ke Anjungan Expo Waena

JAYAPURA –Jubi – Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB) menyatakan dukungan sepenuhnya Perwakilan Papua Barat United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) untuk masuk menjadi anggota tetap Melanesian Spreadhead Group (MSG) pada Konferensi Tingkat Tinggi (KTT) pada tanggal 14-16 Juli 2016 di Honiara, ibukota Kepulauan Salomon.

“Kami tak mengharap dan menjanjikan kepada rakyat bahwa ULMWP diterima menjadi anggota tetap MSG sekaligus proses menuju Papua Merdeka. Tapi ini semua adalah suatu kemajuan politik atau spirit menuju pembebasan bangsa Papua Barat,” tegas Koordinator Lapangan Umum KNPB Bazoka Logo disela-sela aksi demo damai di Anjungan Expo Waena, Kota Jayapura, Rabu (13/7).

Dikatakan, pihaknya memastikan pengakuan terhadap status politik Papua Barat dan perjuangan menuju negara merdeka dan berdaulat tak hanya diakui Indonesia, tapi juga telah diakui dunia internasional, antara lain negara-negara yang tergabung didalam MSG, seperti Indonesia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Fiji, Salomon Island, Vanuatu.

Terkait aksi demo damai mendukung ULMWP ke MSG yang semula diagendakan berlangsung di Lapangan Trikora, Abepura pada tanggal 13-14 Juli 2015, menurut Bazoka, pihak KNPB dan pihak Polresta Jayapura sehari sebelumnya telah menyepakati akisi demo damai tak dilakukan di Lapangan Trikora, tapi di Anjungan Axpo Waena.

Pantuan Bintang Papua di Anjungan Expo, Waena, aksi demo damai berupa peragaan seni budaya Melanesia, pegelaran musik dan prosesi bakar batu. Sementara aparat keamanan tengah berjaga-jaga di seputaran Anjungan Expo, Waena. (mdc/aj)

July 14, 2016 0

West Papua wants to interact more with MSG countries

SolomonStarNews.com, Published: 13 July 2016

West Papua says it wants more interaction with members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and New Caledonia.

The intention was relayed yesterday to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara by the visiting General Secretary of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua, Octovinius Mote.

Mr Mote told Prime Minister Sogavare that West Papua would like to see more contacts in sports, especially in soccer with their Melanesian brothers in PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Caledonia.

He said West Papua would be interested in joining the Melanesian Cup soccer competition.

Mr Mote said as a start, West Papua would also like to send young West Papuans to study at the Solomon Islands National University in Honiara and in educational institutions in Vanuatu.

He added at a later date, students from West Papua could also be sent to study in PNG and Fiji.

Mr Mote is leading a three-member delegation of the ULMOWP to observe the Pacific Islands Development Forum Summit which begins in Honiara tomorrow (July 12).

By George Atkin,
OPMC Press Secretariat

July 13, 2016 0

West Papua hopeful for full membership

solomonstarnews.com, Published: 13 July 2016

Indonesian province of West Papua is hopeful to see their full membership plea in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), advance during this 4th Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) summit hosted in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Speaking to the media yesterday spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Paupua (ULMWP) Benny Wenda said they are optimistic to see the struggle of their people advance to the next level, within the MSG.

He said their ongoing campaign and struggle for support from the Melanesian countries and the pacific will help them advance their membership status in the MSG, which is fundamental to their wish to become an independent state.

ULMWP acquired their observer status in MSG last year during the MSG meeting held in Honiara, thus they are hopeful to see their status in this sub-regional organisation advanced to full membership.

Wenda stressed their struggle is not for them but for the future generation of West Papua, who will be free from brutality and bloodshed continued to be suffered on the hands of the Indonesian military.

By AATAI JOHN

July 13, 2016 0

Logika NKRI: ULMWP, ILWP, IPWP, PNWP Apakah ini Semua Kebohongan Publik?

Logika NKRI memang tidak logis, karena logika NKRI selalu emosional, militeristik, berbasiskan fasis dan rasis. Fondasi fascis dan rasis membuat apa saja yang dikatakannya dipaksakan.

Orang Papua dipaksa menerima Pepera 1969 di West Irian sebagai sebuah fakta sejarah yang disetujui oleh PBB, oleh karena itu orang Papua terima saja.

Orang Papua dipaksa menerima kekejaman Soeharto sebagai sebuah sejarah kelam, tetapi tidak perlu diutak-atik, semuanya sudah lewat, kini Jokowi sudah, jangan ungkit-ungkit masa lalu.

Orang Papua dipaksa melupakan berbagai kasus pembunuhan yang telah terjadi di Tanah Papua sejak NKRI menginvasi secara militer sejak 1 Januari 1962 dan disetujui PBB sejak 1 Mei 1963.

Orang Papua dipaksa untuk mengikuti logika NKRI bahwa laporan pelanggaran HAM oleh Komnas HAM RI, oleh Komisi HAM PBB, oleh Pelapor Khusus Komisi HAM PBB, oleh Perdana Menteri Vanuatu, oleh Perdana Menteri Solomon Islands sebagai “orang-orang yant tidak tahu tentang Papua”. Alasannya karena Jokowi sekarang sudah mengunjungi Papua delapan kali. Tidak menyebutkan dampaknya, karena orang Papua masih dibunuh terus. Jokowi punya kekuatan apa di dalam tubuh militer dan polisi Indonesia?

Kini orang Papua dipaksa untuk menerima logika sesat, bahwa ULMWP, IPWP< ILWP, PNWP, TRWP, dan semua keputusan PIF, MSG dan Westminster Declaration, Deklarasi Port Vila, semuanya dikatakan oleh NKRI sebagai “bohong”, “memprovokasi”, “tipu-tipu cari makan”.

KNPB tidak perlu bicara, NKRI tidak perlu bicara, “Tanyakan saja kepada rumput yang bergoyang: Apakah MSG itu real? Apakah PIF itu bohong? Apakah dukungan parlemen Inggris itu mimpi?” Apa artinya real, apa artinya mimpi, apa artinya bohong, apa artinya realitas.

Mohon maaf sekali, pertanyaan sangat tolol ini harus kita ajukan, dalam rangka meluruskan logika kita tentang logika sesat yang dikebangkan oleh NKRI bahwa apa yang dilakukan oleh KNPB, PNWP, ULMWP, TRWP, dan FWPC adalah bohong. Kita tidak usah saling menyalahkan, fakta, realitas, sejarah menunjukkan benar-tidaknya semuanya ini. Boleh-boleh saja NKRI sebagia penjajah menganggap semua ini kebohongan, tetapi manusia di muka Bumi tidak sebodoh orang Indonesia. Manusia selain orang Indonesia di dunia ini sangat mutalhir dalam pengetahuan mereka, Mereka tidak perlu diajar, tidak perlu disangkal atau di-approve, secara real-nya mereka membuktikan dirinya sendiri.

Hai NKRI, jangan buang-buang waktu dan tenaga mengatakan sebuah fakta sebagai kebohongan, supaya kita tidak usah malu nantinya menelan ludah sendiri.

July 13, 2016 0

PM emphasises PIDF summit theme

solomonstarnews.com, Published: 13 July 2016

PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare said, the theme of the 4th Leaders’ Summit do recognises the fact that the health, wealth, history, culture and identity of the peoples of the Pacific Islands are vast and diverse.

Speaking at the official opening of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) Leaders’ Summit, at the Lawson Tama stadium on Tuesday, Mr Sogavare said the theme underpins the role oceans play to the biological diversity of the people within the Pacific realm.

The theme of the current Leaders’ Summit is ‘Stewardship for Healthy Oceans & Nations’.

“It reinforces hat fact that the geographical vastness of our nations is immeasurable.

“We cannot deny the fact that we are oceans people; we live by the ocean and we are big ocean states,” he said.

He added, we as Pacific Islanders can easily correlate the aspirations of the Sustainable Development Goals to the health and welfare of the ocean that we share among us.

“Oceans cover approximately 70.8% or 361 million square kilometres of earth’s surface with a volume of about 1,370 million cubic kilometres. The oceans contain 97% of our planet’s available water.

“In our Pacific region, we can say that careful management of our ocean is key to our sustainable future”.

The Prime Minister said, the theme of stewardship for Healthy Oceans and Healthy Nations is also meant to stimulate the intellectual thinking capacities of the Pacific Island leaders who are part of the current PIDF summit, in Honiara.

“Let us have this intellectual stimulation to save the health of our ocean and safeguard the identity of our nations.

“That said, on behalf of every Solomon Islanders, I applaud your stewardship for a healthy ocean and healthy nations”.

By RONALD TOITO’ONA

July 13, 2016 0

West Papua Issue is NOT Just About Being “Pity” with Melanesians in West Papua

West Papua Issues is NOT Only about Melanesian brothers and sisters across the South Pacific to feel sorry and pity about the human suffering occurring in the Western half of New Guinea Island since the invasion and occupation of the territory by Indonesian nation-state since 1961. General Mathias Wenda the Commander in Chief of the West Papua Revolutionary Army (WPRA) says,

West Papua issue is not just regarding those of us Melanesians who were born and grown up in West Papua as being suffering from Indonesian invasion and occupation. It is more than that. It is to do with our common goal, shared fate, shared future, the common destiny of “Melanesia” as a human society in the South Pacific Region. The modernisation project has brought about catastrophic consequences on us in our region, but it does not mean we blame anybody or anything. It means, we as human beings, as human society, should stand up, think about, discusses, speak up, and act upon steps towards saving our own future.

General Wenda continues,

We are not talking about economic development, regional security and stability,nor pleasing Indonesia and the Western interests in the Pacific Rim. We are not talking about what is prosperity and how to achieve it. We are talking about the very survival or our Melaneisan race in our region. We are talking about the future of own children and grand-children. We are talking about hundreds of years to come. Yes, we hsave to be ready to accept that some of the islands in our region will sink. Of course, global warming is a reality that we must not regret but should anticipate from now on. Yes, this is why the Suva Declaration on Climate Change has the rightful Melanesian spirit, as it is directly to do with our own future. When we do sit down ourselves as Melanesians, without western and Asian interests and influences, then we can see we have our wisdom aired and decisions made addressing the “real needs” and “strategic issues” of Melanesian peoples and the South Pacific Region.

General Wenda also emphasizes that besides MSG as the regional body under the Pacific Island Forum (PIF), involving parties outside Melanesians, Micronesians and Polynesians, our Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) is established on our own interest, to deal with our own issues. PIDF is the native “Melanesian organisation”, that we needs to raise and nurture for our own sake.

Unity among Melanesians as a family is the key towards “Good News” for our future generations. We should not be fooled by security issues, regional peace issues, development issues that are being aired by Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. We need to think first of all about “our own existence” in the coming 100 – 200 years in our small islands before we talk about wealth and prosperity, peace and justice, development and modernisation.

General Wenda maintains that New Guinea Island is the homeland of all Melanesians,

This Island is our Island, out future, out home, our fate is based on this Island. We should not allow foreigners occupy and exploit, take over and wipe our our Melanesian race. If this happens, then where will al Melanesians go? Australia? Sorry but our Aboriginal brothers and sisters have been occupied. They have no power to make decisions when anything happens to our small islands.

Our only hope is the Isle of New Guinea. Anytime, in the future, when anything happens in our small islands, every Melanesian man and woman knows that each of us has our big home-land, that is, the Isle of New Guinea. It is time now, to wisely and strategically prepare for our future generations, by saving West Papua for our own sake. Before we regret, before our children regret, before our grand-children put curse upon us for not acting wisely now, let us be wise, let us make up our minds in the spirit of Melanesia wisdom, in Melanesia way, based on Melanesia beliefs and philosophy.

Yes, we Melanesians in West Papua are being continuously killed, being systematically, structurally, and extensively being wiped out under the Indonesian project called “Pan-Pacific Rim of Great Indonesia” designed by Soekarno and Ali Murtopo in 1960s. Papua New Guinea is diplomaticall, not politically, fully under Indonesian control right now, by employing Indonesian strategy called “fear-and-terror” and conquer. In not long time to come, Papua New Guinea will be occupied diplomatically by Indonesia.

That is why, we are now, I am now, General Mathias Wenda, asking not for all Melanesian leaders not to feel pity about us Melanesians in West Papua. Let us take what is happening in West Papua as a “waking-up alarm” for all Melanesian leaders, to strategically think, tactically plan, and wisely act to save our Melanesian fate, politically, socially, culturally, and more importantly environmentally.

July 13, 2016 0

Keanggotaan MSG akan Lebih Terbuka

Delegasi ULMWP menuju kota Honiara dari Honiara International Airport, Selasa (12/7/2016) – Jubi/Victor Mambor

Honiara, Jubi – Keanggotaan Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) akan dibahas secara khusus dalam pertemuan para pemimpin MSG di Honiara, 14-16 Juni 2016.

“Ide tentang keanggotaan MSG yang lebih terbuka akan menjadi pembahasan khusus dalam pertemuan para pemimpin nanti. Ini berarti, kelompok internasional atau regional maupun negara yang tidak berada dalam blok Melanesia bisa menjadi anggota penuh ataupun anggota asosiasi,” jelas Ketua MSG, Manaseh Sogavare kepada wartawan usai bertemu dengan Pimpinan United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Octovianus Mote dan Benny Wenda di Mendana Hotel, Honiara, Rabu (13/7/2016).

Ia mengaku sudah memberikan instruksi kepada Sekretariat MSG untuk membuat persyaratan dan panduan baru keanggotaan MSG. Menurutnya, panduan dan persyaratan ini nantinya harus dipahami oleh para pihak yang ingin menjadi anggota MSG.

“Para pemimpin akan diberikan kesempatan bertemu dengan ULMWP,” lanjut Sogavare.

Ia menambahkan, dukungan Fiji terhadap perjuangan bangsa Papua berpemerintahan sendiri juga telah dibicarakan.

“Dukungan dari lima anggota MSG ini datang dari dalam hati,” tambah Sogavare.

Benny Wenda dan Octovianus Mote, dua pemimpin ULMWP, usai bertemu Sogavare mengatakan ULMWP sebagai perwakilan bangsa Papua sudah siap dengan konsekuensi jika nantinya diterima sebagai anggota penuh.

“Bangsa Papua sejak dulu adalah bagian dari Melanesia. Kami tentu sangat ingin berinteraksi dengan sesama saudara Melanesia kami di Papua New Guinea, Solomon, Vanuatu, Fiji dan Kanaki,” ujar Wenda.

Papua, menurut Wenda ingin mulai melakukan interaksi dengan sesama saudara Melanesianya melalui olahraga, terutama sepakbola. Selain itu, para mahasiswa dan pelajar dari Papua bisa dikirimkan untuk belajar di Perguruan Tinggi di Kepulauan Solomon atau Vanuatu.

“Suatu saat nanti, orang Papua bisa belajar di Papua New Guinea dan juga sebaliknya,” tambah Mote.

Mengenai kewajiban sebagai anggota untuk membayar iuran setiap tahun, Mote mengatakan bangsa Papua sadar bahwa itu adalah konsekuensi sebagai anggota penuh.

“Kami siap melakukan semua kewajiban sebagai anggota. Termasuk jika suatu saat nanti bangsa Papua harus menjadi tuan rumah pertemuan pemimpin MSG, saya yakin bangsa Papua juga siap,” jelas Mote.

Belakangan ini, iuran keanggotaan menjadi isu penting di MSG setelah Front Pembebasan Kanak (FLNKS) tidak bisa memenuhi kewajiban mereka. Direktur Jenderal MSG, Amena Yauvoli, kepada wartawan menjelaskan situasi FLNKS sangat dimengerti oleh anggota MSG lainnya sehingga kontribusi FLNK dikurangi mulai tahun depan.

“MSG akan mengurangi budget operasional sekretariat untuk mengatasi masalah keuangan ini,” kata Yauvoli. (*)

July 13, 2016 0

ULMWP : West Papua Bergerak Maju dari Advokasi Menuju Sebuah Negara

Sekjen ULMWP Octovianus Mote, Juru Bicara ULMWP (Benny Wenda) dan anggota ULMWP Rex Rumakiek saat upacara penerimaan delegasi ULMWP oleh Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil Pasifik untuk West Papua – Jubi/Victor Mambor

Honiara, Jubi – Perjuangan bangsa Papua Barat saat ini mulai bergerak maju dari tahap advokasi menuju tahap membangun negara. Pernyataan ini disampaikan oleh Sekretaris Jenderal United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) di Honiara kepada sejumlah wartawan.

“Saat ini kami harus bergerak maju membangun sebuah negara. Ini untuk mendapatkan dukungan internasional dalam penentuan nasib sendiri,” kata Octovianus Mote, Sekjen ULMWP, Rabu (13/7/2016).

Bangsa Papua, sebagai bangsa yang besar dan memiliki tanah yang besar harus mempersiapkan diri untuk membantu rakyat Melanesia dan Pasifik yang hidup di pulau-pulau kecil yang mungkin saja akan menghadapi masalah dengan dampak perubahan iklim.

“Bangsa Papua harus mengambil peran dalam pembangunan ekonomi, pembangunan kapasitas pekerja medis, dokter hingga upaya menghadapi dampak perubahan iklim,” ujar Mote.

Menurutnya, saat ini bangsa dan rakyat Papua memiliki kapasitas untuk membantu bangsa dan rakyat Pasifik dan Melanesia.

Terpisah, Juru Bicara ULMWP, Benny Wenda berharap ULMWP mendapatkan status anggota penuh di Melanesia Spearhead Groups (MSG).

“Kami optimis. Saat ini dukungan dari bangsa-bangsa Melanesia dan Pasifik sangat kuat. Ini memberikan harapan besar bagi kami untuk menjadi sebuah negara bebas,” kata Wenda.

Ia menambahkan, perjuangan saat ini bukan untuk dirinya atau para pejuang Papua Merdeka, namun untuk masa depan bangsa dan rakyat Papua.

“Perjuangan ini, perjuangan bangsa dan rakyat Papua agar bisa bebas dari penindasan Indonesia,” kata Wenda.

Perdana Menteri Kepulauan Solomon, Manaseh Sogavare, kepada wartawan usai pertemuan Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF) menggambarkan perjuangan bangsa dan rakyat Papua sebagai perjuangan yang menarik perhatian bangsa-bangsa Melanesia dan Pasifik.

“Kesadaran bangsa Papua Barat sebagai bagian dari Melanesia dan Pasifik serta kesadaran untuk membantu bangsa-bangsa Pasifik yang menghadapi ancaman perubahan iklim adalah langkah positif karena menunjukkan kepada Indonesia bahwa Bangsa Papua sangat serius dalam memandang dirinya dan siap dalam mengelola kekeyaan sumberdaya alamnya,”

jelas Sogavare.

Sogavare menambahkan, MSG Summit akan membahas aplikasi ULMWP untuk menjadi anggota penuh MSG agar bangsa Papua Barat bisa menyelesaikan masalah dengan Indonesia, terutama pelanggaran Hak Asasi Manusia yang terjadi terus menerus di Papua.

“Kepedulian masyarakat internasional terhadap pelanggaran Hak Asasi Manusia di Papua juga ditunjukkan oleh Australia, Selandia Baru, Papua New Guinea, Fiji dan Vanuatu baik pemerintah maupun masyarakat sipilnya. Saat ini masalah Papua mendapatkan momentumnya,”

kata Sogavare. (*)

July 13, 2016 0