Leader of the Australian West Papua Association (Sydney) (AWPA), Joe Collins, has spoken out against reports that Jakarta has requested Australia to pass on a message to the Solomon Islands to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of Indonesia.
“This is an outrageous request as it is the duty of all nations to raise concern about human rights abuses not only in West Papua but no matter where they are committed.
“The Solomon Islands and the other six Pacific leaders who raised concern about the human rights abuses in West Papua (at the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September) are to be congratulated for their courageous stand on the issue of West Papua,” said Mr Collins.
He said that it is a pity that Australia does not follow the Pacific leaders in also condemning the ongoing human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian Military.
“Not only should Australia refuse the request of the Indonesian defence minister but should be supporting the Pacific leaders in calling on Jakarta to allow a PIF facing mission to West Papua.”
Indonesia’s Defence Minister was quoted by media as having requested Australia to pass on the message to the Solomon Islands, saying that as a major donor, Australia should raise the issue of non-interference with Solomon Islands.
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Joe Collins, along with AWPA’s Secretary Anne Noonan, were awarded the 2012 John Rumbiak Human Rights Defender Award.
AWPA’s role is to lobby and inform the Australian Government and the International Community and in particular regional organizations such as the Pacific Islands Forum and the Melanesian Spearhead Group to raise concerns about the human rights situation in West Papua.
In a statement, Parkop said Papua New Guinea should be adopting a more moral and humanistic policy on West Papua instead of sticking to the immoral position of continuing to recognize Indonesia Sovereignty over the territory without question or conditions.
Parkop said he will be making submission to this effective to the NEC and will impress on NEC to change our policy.
“Otherwise I will be pushing for such changes in the next Government after 2017 General Election.
“I will be proposing that PNG adopt a position where while we acknowledge Indonesia control over the territory of West Papua, we must question the legality of the integration and call on Indonesia to correct this historical error so as to bring lasting peace and harmony to our region.
“We all know that so called Act of Free Choice in 1969 did not comply with the law as it exist in 1969 or since. We all know Indonesia invaded West Papua in 1962 and had military, political and administrative control of the territory in 1969 when the Vote on Integration was taken.
“We all know Indonesia only allowed 1000 people out of 1.2 million Papuans to vote in 1969. We all know that these 1000 people were selected and subject to undue pressure by the Indonesia.Indonesia is obliged to correct this historical mistake that continues to retard the progress of the Papua People and hinder their freedom.”
Parkop added that although the Government has made progress in addressing the Papuan issue on a bilateral and multilateral basis but our policy has not changed. Our policy to just recognize Indonesia Sovereignty over West Papua without reservation is immoral, outdate and inhuman. It is also against our conscience. It is also against the stand or position of all Pacific Countries including Polynesians and Micronesians.”
Indonesia invaded Timor Leste in 1975 and eventually allowed them to decide their future by a referendum 2000.We all applaud them for correcting that historical mistake. They should do the same with West Papua. Indonesia will be doing a service to humanity and to itself by making this honorable decision rather than to lie.
Parkop further added that as friends of Indonesia, we should not be afraid to speak our mind about the nature of our friendship including pointing out any impediment to a robust friendship.He said the future between PNG and Indonesia will be more robust and enhance if Indonesia relents and agree to allow Papuans to morally and legally decide their future by a properly supervised referendum under the United Nations.
“This is the policy PNG Government should adopt as it is moral, humanistic, legal and honest policy.”
News that the Indonesian government is upping the ante against supporters of West Papua comes as no surprise, a well-placed senior government source said.
“It is no surprise to us, and I think it is not right to say that we are interfering with the internal affairs of Indonesia, we are simply raising an issue of concern regarding our Melanesian brothers of West Papua.
“We are all members of the United Nations, and the respect for Human Rights is one of the key cornerstones of the Charter,” he says.
“That is what we are asking from the UN, to send an independent assessment team to find out the facts on the ground and to report back to the members.”
He says that it is not an unreasonable request, nor is it unprecedented, it is a process established by the UN, and one that Solomon Islands and other Pacific countries are calling on the UN to use.
He says that the membership of West Papua in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is an issue for the MSG alone to decide.
“This is no different from the membership of New Caledonia’s FLNKS, no different, and in fact this is in line with the establishment of the MSG.”
He says that France may not have been supportive of the idea for the FLNKS to join the MSG, “but perhaps they recognized the importance of allowing the FLNKS to raise issues of concern in a proper forum.”
“We have historical and cultural ties to the West Papuan people, so we cannot stand idly by when allegations of human rights abuses are raised time and again.
“So we will use whichever fora we deem appropriate to raise such issues, not to interfere but to remind ourselves of our obligations to certain universal principles and values.”
The Defence Minister of Indonesia has urged the Australian government to rebuke Pacific states, in particular Solomon Islands, for raising Papua in global fora.
A Research Fellow at the Australian National University’s State, Society and Governance in Melanesia Program, Stewart Firth, told Radio New Zealand that “Jakarta has misinterpreted Australia’s relationship with Pacific countries.”
“These are sovereign states. And in particular in the case of Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands has a right to do that [speak out about West Papua] as a sovereign country, and Australia’s not in a very good position to tell them differently,” Dr Firth said.
RadioNZ – Indonesia’s Defence Minister has urged Australia to rebuke Pacific Island states who raise issues relating to West Papua in global fora.
Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu looks on during the third Trilateral Defence Minister’s Meeting in Nusa Dua on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on August 2, 2016. Photo: SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP
Ryamizard Ryacudu met with Australian government representatives including Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in a meeting in Bali where the two countries reaffirmed security ties.
He pressed Australia to pass a message to Solomon Islands that it should refrain from interferring in the internal affairs of Indonesia, including the issue of West Papua.
World Humanitarian Summit Pacific Consultation. Hon. Julie Bishop, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, in his role as chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, has been vocal about boosting West Papuan representation in the group.
He was also one of seven leaders of Pacific states who spoke out about rights abuses in Papua and on support for Papuan self-determination at last month’s UN General Assembly session.
The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare has been appointed chair of the Pacific Islands Development Forum. Photo: UN Photo/Kim Haughton
Ryamizard told media that he had implored Canberra to speak to Honiara on the matter because Australia contributes a big aid package in the Solomons.
Detik News reports the Minister saying Australia has accepted the request.
Ryamizard said friendly countries do not disturb each other by interfering in domestic issues.
Indonesian military guard the border with Papua New Guinea Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
He warned that Indonesia will not stay silent when its sovereignty is compromised. He described Indonesia as a tiger that can attack if disturbed.
The Minister urged Australia to pass on the message to Solomon Islands and other Pacific states that they should not invite West Papua to join the MSG.
A march through the streets of Honiara in support of West Papua’s bid to join the MSG. Photo: Supplied
The MSG accepted the United Liberation Movement for West Papua into the group with observer status last year and is considering whether to elevate it to full membership.
An MSG leaders meeting on the matter is due before the end of the year in Vanuatu.
Kerusuhan di Manokwari pada 26 Oktober 2016 (Foto: Ist)
MANOKWARI, SATUHARAPAN.COM – Suasana di Manokwari sampai siang hari dilaporkan masih mencekam, kendati pihak Kepolisian telah berhasil mengendalikan situasi pasca aksi massa berdarah kemarin (26/10).
Dalam aksi massa itu seorang meninggal, sejumlah orang terluka, termasuk Danramil. Pos polisi rusak, enam sepeda motor terbakar dan ada upaya massa untuk membakar sejumlah kantor, termasuk kantor BRI Manokwari.
Kronologi peristiwa berdarah itu masih belum jelas akibat adanya berbagai versi. Satuharapan.com mendapatkan sejumlah data yang masih memerlukan verifikasi.
Peristiwa itu terjadi pada tanggal 26 Oktober yang adalah hari libur resmi di Tanah Papua, termasuk di Manokwari. Hari itu diperingati sebagai hari lahirnya Gereja Kristen Injili (GKI) Di Tanah Papua 60 tahun silam (26 Oktober 1956).
Namun, kata Yan Christian Warinussy, direktur LP3BH Manokwari, hari bersejarah ini dinodai oleh peristiwa yang menyedihkan. Awalnya adalah ketika seorang anak muda bermarga Pauspaus asal Fakfak mengalami tindakan kekerasan. Ia ditikam dengan pisau oleh dua orang pelaku yang diduga berasal dari Sulawesi Selatan (Bugis Makassar) di seputaran kawasan Sanggeng-Manokwari.
Akibatnya, sejumlah kerabat dan teman dari korban tidak terima dan melakukan pemalangan jalan Yos Sudarso dengan cara membakar ban serta melakukan tindakan hendak mencari sang pelaku penusukan/penikaman tadi.
Aparat kepolisian dari Polres Manokwari yang didukung oleh Brimob Polda Papua Barat dan personel polisi Polda Papua Barat, dipimpin langsung Kapolda Papua Barat, Brigjen Pol.Royke Lumowa, langsung turun mengamankan situasi.
Tapi, menurut Yan Christian, berdasarkan informasi dari warga sipil di kawasan Sanggeng, aparat polisi kemudian melakukan tindakan menembak secara membabi-buta, hingga mengakibatkan jatuh korban di pihak warga sipil Sanggeng.
Menurut informasi warga yang belum diverifikasi, terdapat 7 (tujuh) korban luka tembak senjata api, salah satunya Ones Rumayom (45) yang kemudian meninggal. Selebihnya, Erik Inggabouw (18) tahun dan 5 (lima) orang lain yang masih diidentifikasi identitasnya. Mereka berenam saat ini masih dirawat di Rumah Sakit Angkatan Laut (RSAL) Dr.Ashari – Biryosi, Manokwari-Papua Barat.
Tadi malam sejak pukul 20:30 WIT hingga tadi pagi jam 06:25, menurut Yah Christian, masih terdengar bunyi letusan senjata api di kawasan Sanggeng hingga ke Swafen dekat Kantor Pengadilan Negeri Manokwari dan Mapolda Papua Barat.
Menurut dia, ada juga informasi bahwa semalam terjadi gerakan penyerangan dari warga sipil asal Bugis Makassar dari Kampung Makassar di Wosi ke Sanggeng, sehingga sempat terjadi ketegangan hingga pagi hari.
“Sampai tadi pagi sekitar jam 08:50 wit, ketika saya melakukan perjalanan dari rumah saya di Swafen menuju kantor LP3BH di Fanindi Bengkel Tan, di sepanjang jalan H.Soejarwo Condronegoro, SH dari Swafen-Reremi suasana aman. Tapi di jalan Yos Sudarso tepat di jembatan Sahara ada bekas pembakaran ban mobil dan juga di Jalan Gunung Salju di pertigaan samping Hotel Triton ada bekas pembakar ban mobil dan masih ada palang serta puing-puing sisa pembakaran yang belum jelas dan ada kepulan asap kecil,”
kata Yan Christian kepada satuharapan.com.
Dilaporkan pula bahwa SMP Negeri 3 Manokwari tutup, juga Hadi Supermarket, pintunya terbuka sedikit saja dan toko serta kios sepanjang jalan Gunung Salju terlihat tutup dan jalan lengang.
Meninggal Bukan karena Tembakan
Sementara itu keterangan pihak Kepolisian Papua Barat mengatakan bahwa berita yang beredar yang mengatakan korban penikaman ususnya terurai, tidak benar. Luka yang benar adalah di punggung. Saat ini korban masih dirawat di RS AL Manokwari.
Menurut polisi, peristiwa bermula dari korban, Vijay Pauspaus, makan di warung kaki lima. Ia dikatakan membuat kekacauan dengan tidak membayar dan merusak warung.
Pada perkembangannya ada kesanggupan dari korban untuk membayar tetapi sudah terlanjur terjadi kesalahpahaman.
Warga sekitar warung menegurnya tetapi tidak digubris. Akhirnya terjadi perkelahian yang mengakibatkan luka tusuk pada korban. Pelaku diduga pemuda pendatang yang saat ini sedang dikejar oleh petugas.
Warga Sanggeng yang merupakan daerah asal korban, marah mendengar kejadian itu lalu melakukan penyerangan terhadap polisi/patroli rayon. Pos dirusak, enam sepeda motor dibakar. Massa pun dilaporkan mencoba membakar kantor BRI dan bangunan di sekitarnya.
Danramil Kota terkena bacok di kepala hingga 10 jahitan.
Menurut keterangan pihak kepolisian, petugas patroli rayon berusaha membubarkan massa dengan tembakan ke udara, dan akhirnya diarahkan ke bagian kaki. Dua orang terkena peluru karet di paha dan dua orang luka karena terjatuh akibat kejaran petugas.
Belakangan diketahui satu korban terkena tembakan di paha atas nama Oni Rumayom. Tetapi menurut dokter RS AL, sebagaimana dikutip oleh polisi, korban meninggal bukan karena luka tembak. Sebab di luka tembak tersebut tidak ada pendarahan yang hebat.
Untuk memastikan penyebab kematiannya siang ini atau besok pagi akan dilakukan otopsi. Dokter forensik masih harus didatangkan dari Makassar.
Sedangkan keadaan luka yang dialami Vijay Pauspaus dinilai tidak kronis seperti yang diberitakan.
“Tadi malam saya nengok dan ke RS korban masih bisa bercakap-cakap dengan saya,” kata Kapolda Papua Barat, Brigjen Pol.Royke Lumowa.
“Saat ini situasi kota Manokwari terkendali,” kata Kapolda.
Kapolri Jenderal Tito Karnavian telah menginstruksikan jajarannya untuk mencari pelaku penembakan. Dipastikan Tito pelaku penembakan akan diproses jika terbukti melakukan pelanggaran hukum.
“Tentunya, termasuk proses penembakan tersebut oleh siapa, sesuai prosedur atau tidak. Kalau ada pelanggaran hukum kita akan proses, kalau ada penegakan disiplin kita akan tegakan, kalau dia melakukan pembelaan diri kan lain lagi,” kata Tito di Mabes Polri, Jakarta, Kamis (27/10).
Suasana kuliah umum West Papua, Indonesia, and Pacifik di Universitas Melbourne, Selasa (25/10/2016) – Jubi/AA
Jayapura, Jubi – West Papua, Indonesia dan Pasifik menjadi topik diskusi hangat dalam diskusi umum terbuka yang diselenggarakan oleh Universitas Melbourne, Selasa (25/10) di Sidney Myer Asia Centre Melbourne Australia. Diskusi tersebut membahas perkembangan politik di West Papua dan konflik ‘tak terdamaikan’ antara pemerintah Jakarta dan kelompok-kelompok perlawanan di Papua.
Perjuangan diplomatik antara pemerintah Indonesia dan United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) di Melanesian Spearhead Group dan Forum Kepulauan Pacific (PIF), menurut situs kegiatan Universitas Melbourne itu, juga disiskusikan.
Acara yang dihadiri sekitar 60-an peserta berlatarbelakang dosen, mahasiswa, pejabat, konsulat Indonesia, dan aktivis itu menghadirkan Nic Maclellan dan Dr. Budi Hernawan sebagai pembicara.
Mclellan adalah seorang jurnalis dan peneliti di Kepulauan Pasifik. Dia adalah koresponden untuk majalah Islands Business dan kontributor untuk beberapa media asing terkait tema-tema seperti pembangunan, dekolonisasi dan demiliterisasi di Pasifik. Sementara Budi Hernawan adalah peneliti dari Abdurrahman Wahid Institut dan pengajar di Universitas Paramadina yang cukup lama berkecimpuang di persoalan HAM Papua.
“Peserta yang hadir itu cukup besar untuk ukuran acara-acara kuliah umum Universitas, karena biasanya dihadiri 12 orang saja. Saya rasa ketertarikan ini meningkat karena situasi di Pasifik dan respon Indonesia saat ini terkait West Papua,” ujar Hernawan kepada Jubi, Kamis (27/10/2016).
Berdasarkan keterangan panitia penyelenggara, tema tersebut dipilih karena perkembangan yang semakin menarik di Pasifik terkait MSG yang menjadi satu-satunya forum resmi dimana rakyat Papua melalui ULMWP, dan pemerintah Indonesia duduk di meja yang sama. Namun di dalam proses itu pula pelanggaran HAM di West Papua terus berlanjut dan pendekatan keamanan pemerintah Indonesia masih memanen kritik baik di West Papua, Pasifik bahkan hinga ke PBB.
“Sekarang situasi Pasifik lagi dinamis, makin seru. Tetapi politik tidak linear, baik Indonesia maupun Papua punya tantangannya masing-masing,” ujar Hernawan melalui pesan singkat.(*)
Jayapura, Jubi – Sydney Indie Film Festival memilih Punk for West Papua memenangkan Film Dokumenter terbaik di ajang Sidney Indie Film Festival Senin (24/10/2016). Awal tahun ini film tersebut juga memenangkan Award of Merit, Feature Dokumenter di festival Indiefest Film di San Diego, AS.
Film berdurasi 46 menit yang disutradarai oleh Anthony Brennan ini menceritakan dukungan komunitas punk Australia terhadap perjuangan pembebasan West Papua. Secara khusus film tersebut mendokumentasikan wawancara ekslusif dengan Benny Wenda, juru bicara United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).
Brennan menghabiskan hidupnya bekerja untuk TV komersil, yang membuatnya cukup skeptik terhadap pesan-pesan media mainstream. Dia membuat film dokumenter untuk Papua ini, seperti dilansir situs Green Left Weekly (GLW), pada awalnya hanya untuk memfilmkan lima band punk yang melakukan penggalangan dana untuk West Papua.
Namun pertemuannya dengan Benny Wenda, yang cukup terburu-buru di sela-sela pengambilan gambar tersebut, mengubah rencana film ini menjadi lebih panjang dan dokumenter yang agak ‘serius’.
“Setelah saya mewawancarai Wenda, satu langsung tahu saya harus buat film ini. Itulah pertama kali film itu menjadi ‘dokumenter, dan saya lanjutkan dengan wawancara beberapa orang sepanjang tur solidaritas band punk terhadap West Papua di Australia,” ujarnya.
Brennan mengaku pada awalnya dia tidak banyak tahu apa yang sebenarnya terjadi West Papua. “Saya kira tak banyak orang tahu apa yang benar-benar terjadi, karena itu saya mulai sedikit membaca dan terkejut adanya genosida di sana,” ujarnya kepada GLW.
Brennan berbesar hati karena kampanye untuk West Papua semakin mendapat momentum belakangan ini. “Setiap hari ada saja kelompok baru di sosial media yang mulai berbicara terkait situasi di West Papua,” ujarnya.(*)
University of PNG student Kellyanne Limbiye, 23, was crowned Miss Papua New Guinea (PNG) 2016 in Port Moresby last Saturday.
The Pacific Assurance Group-sponsored contestant will be the country’s representative at the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) in Samoa.
Limbiye, a final-year political science student was also judged winner of the sarong wear and talent categories. First runner-up was Miss Queen Emma Chocolates Lois Doules Ilave, second runner-up was Miss International Training Institute (ITI) Rose Lakoro Pitoi and the third runner-up Miss Pacific Balanced Fund (PBF), Melody Leke.
Head of the judging panel Robert Aisi said it was a tough job for the panel because the contestants demonstrated courage and grace.
Limbiye said that it was through the motivation and inspiration of her mother, sisters and the MPIP committee members, particularly Molly O’Rourke, that pushed her to perform to her best.
She made a special mention of Pacific Assurance Group for coming to her aid in the final weeks leading up to the actual pageant week.
Special awards were Best Traditionally Inspired Dress Miss Queen Emma Chocolates Ilave, Miss Photogenic and Patrons’ Choice Miss Italpreziosi Dorothy Elliot, Miss Friendship Miss Institute of Business Studies (IBS) Samantha Kuase and Best Topic Presentation Miss ITI, Pitoi.
Limbiye bagged the People’s Choice Award sponsored by bmobile and Miss Tourism Award.
She will represent PNG in the MPIP in Samoa in December, accompanied by her designer-stylist Tabu Pelei-Warupi.
The Chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Association, Pastor Allan Nafuki says all civil society organisations in country are united with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pacific Islands Association
of Non-Government Organisation (PIANGO), Emele Duituturaga, to support the request made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to Indonesia, to formally respond to allegations of racial violence and discrimination against Papuans by November 14.
It is a sign that the attitude of the UN to West Papua’s case is beginning to change.
The PIANGO CEO expressed these sentiments following UN CERD chair, Anastasia Crickley’s notification to Indonesia’s UN Permanent Representative, Triyono Wibowo that the committee’s recent session had considered allegations of killings and violence of indigenous Papuans in West Papua.
“I write to inform you that in the course of its 90th session, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has considered, under its early warning and urgent action procedure, allegations of excessive use of force, arrests, killings and torture of persons belonging to the Papuan indigenous people in West Papua, Indonesia, and allegations of discrimination against this people, that have been brought to its attention by a non-government organization”, Miss Crickley stated in the October 3rd dated correspondence.
“Reportedly, between April 2013 and December 2014, security forces killed 22 persons during demonstrations and a number of persons have also been killed or injured since January 2016. It is alleged that in May 2014, more than 470 persons belonging to the Papuan indigenous people were arrested in cities of West Papua during demonstrations against extraction and plantation activities”.
The letter continues, “… Such arrests have reportedly increased since the beginning of 2016 amounting to 4000 between April and June 2016 and have included human rights activists and journalists. Such acts have reportedly never been investigated and those responsible have gone unpunished.
“The submission claims that repression of persons belonging to the Papuan indigenous people is the result of a misinterpretation and lack of a correct implementation of the Special Autonomy Law by local and national authorities of Indonesia. The submission also claims that actions by security forces constitute violations of the rights of freedom of assembly and association”.
Duituturaga said the committee’s requests for information indicates how seriously it is treating the allegations made by civil societies to the UN about the treatment of indigenous West Papuans by the Indonesian government.
“CERD has given Indonesia until Novembers 14 to provide information on its response to the allegations, the status of implementations of the Special Autonomy Law in West Papua, measures taken to ensure the effective protection of indigenous people in West Papua from arbitrary arrests and detentions as well as deprivation of life”, she said.
Indonesia has also been requested to report on measures taken to ensure that indigenous people from West Papua effectively enjoy their rights to freedom of assembly and association including persons with dissenting opinions, measures taken to investigate allegations of excessive use of force by security forces including killings and steps taken to improve access to education of Papuan children in West Papua in particular those living in very remove areas of the UN CERD.
“Indonesia is not only the third largest democracy in the world, they are an emerging economic powerhouse but their inability to apply democratic principles in West Papua threatens their credibility with the international community.
“The ball is in their court now and Pacific civil societies are eagerly awaiting November 14 alongside UN CERD to read their response,” Duituturaga said
Radio NZ – There are plans afoot to ensure West Papua gets full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group by the end of the year.
That’s according to a long-time campaigner for West Papua and Vanuatu churchman Pastor Alan Nafuki.
He received a briefing from the MSG’s chair and Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare last week as a leaders summit was deferred for the second time.
There’s been disagreement among Melanesian leaders over a full seat at the table for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
Pastor Nafuki told Sally Round a summit is now set for early December and full membership for West Papuans will be like Christmas cake for all Melanesian countries.
Transcript
West Papuans demonstrate support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s bid to be a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Photo: Tabloid Jubi
PASTOR ALAN NAFUKI: It has been decided next time around when the summit convenes its meeting during the month of December this year, there are other alternatives to make, to make sure that the West Papua issue, West Papua bid to become a full member of MSG will be granted by December. Regardless of if all the Melanesian countries do not get together, that would not stop the granting of the West Papuans full membership of the MSG.
SALLY ROUND: Mr Sogavare had some kind of plan for this?
AN: Leaders of government, they have their own plans but I would speak on behalf of civil society within the Melanesian countries like New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands and civil society in Papua New Guinea and also in Fiji, that we’ve been fighting for many, many years now. We are looking forward to the summit that is being organised, planned for December this year.
SR: At your meeting with Mr Sogavare last week were any of the avenues discussed about how, without certain countries attending…
AN: He only briefed us that the meeting was scheduled for December and things should be OK by December because even if majority were present, the meeting would continue to boost West Papua into the membership of MSG. To my understanding what the prime minister of Solomon Islands was saying, I think it was obvious and it was good. I think I am satisfied with what he has said and I am very pleased. I think some of the government people, they are trying to revisit the MSG constitution and see what options they can take best to accommodate the West Papuans. The Vanuatu government asked the chiefs of Vanuatu and churches in Vanuatu if we are all 100 percent supporting, so you could not deny anything from our side. It would only look at other countries. But we are looking forward and we made sure that our … the prime minister of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu really understood our voice (inaudible). 100 percent of our people are supporting the West Papuans to come in the membership of the MSG and also for the self determination and of course independence. We have been fighting for this for many, many years. This will be a relief for me. It will be another achievement that is going to be a part of Christmas cake for all Melanesian countries.
University of PNG student Kellyanne Limbiye, 23, was crowned Miss Papua New Guinea (PNG) 2016 in Port Moresby last Saturday.
The Chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Association, Pastor Allan Nafuki says all civil society organisations in country are united with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pacific Islands Association
Papua Merdeka News 