New PIDF Chair Dubs 4th PIDF Leaders Summit a Success

By PM Press –July 14, 2016

The PIDF Chair, Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands.

The Honiara-hosted 4^th Pacific Islands Forum Development Forum Leaders’ Summit concluded yesterday and the new Chair of the organisation, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare described the two-day dialogue as ‘very successful.’

Addressing the Press at the conclusion of the summit late yesterday, Prime Minister Sogavare who has assumed the PIDF Chairmanship for a two-year period said, “ It was a very successful summit. Everything went very well as planned with a number of very important resolutions reached.”

He said the summit started off with pre-summit discussions on various topics of interest to PIDF Member States and concluded with the handing over of the chairmanship from Prime Minister Hon Bainimarama of Fiji to him as well as discussions on the report of the PIDF Secretary-General Mr Martel Francois.

The pre-summit discussions covered the Paris Agreement, which emanated from the United Nations Summit on Climate Change in Paris (COP21), roadmap to COP22 in Marrakesh, Morocco, Harnessing and Guaranteeing Ocean Wealth, Enhancing Collaboration in Achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and Opportunities for Accessing Climate Change Adaptation Financing.

The PIDF chairmanship handover to the Solomon Islands Prime Minister from his Fiji counterpart- the first time for another PIDF Member State apart from Fiji to take on this role- will see the incumbent serve for a two-year term.

The report by the PIDF Secretary-General covered PIDF’s Budget and Work Programme for 2017, Regional Development Trust Fund, Roadmap for Climate Change, Proposal for a Pacific Climate Treaty, Resolution for the Observance of the Pacific Year of Ocean 2017, PIDF Blue Economy Conference in 2017, PIDF role in UN Conference on Oceans and Seas, PIDF Contribution to the Climate Induced Migration Summit and the IMO- European Union Project on Capacity Building for Climate Change Mitigation in the Maritime Shipping Sector.

“As you know the Pacific Islands Development forum is made up of small developing island states and is a very inclusive organisation and therefore the summit was very much focused on getting our collective voice on global issues affecting us.

“ We acknowledge that because of our smallness, we can only make an influence on decisions on global issues that affect us if we have a collective stand and I think we have improved on that. The outcome of the Paris Agreement for example- the number of positions that were put forward by our small island developing states leading on from the climate change heavily focused Suva Declaration (this declaration emanated from the third PIDF Leaders’ Summit held in Suva, Fiji in 2015).

“A number of issues that were raised by leaders at that forum are reflected in the Paris Agreement. What is left now is the implementation of that agreement which we leaders see as a huge challenge but once again there is that collective approach because of our smallness.

“The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for example, while we appreciate that the prime responsibility to ensure these goals are achieved rests with member countries to streamline our various targets and goals to develop economical strategies, the need for a collective voice on decisions on very important issues affecting us underpins the importance of the PIDF.”

The resolutions reached at the 4^th summit will be developed into a declaration called the Honiara Declaration, which will be released in due course.

The Secretary-General Mr Francois in turn thanked the Solomon Islands Government for hosting the summit, adding that it was quite special as it was the first to be held outside of Fiji since the inception of PIDF in 2013 and enforcement of the PIDF Charter during the third Leaders’ Summit in Suva, Fiji, 10-months ago.

He said the decision to start hosting the annual summit outside of Fiji shows the spirit of inclusivity the PIDF wants to instil in its members.

“We owe the gratitude for Solomon Islands to take on that challenging role. Prime Minister Sogavare has taken upon himself quite a challenge because we are talking about two years of chairmanship, which means two Leaders’ Summits, four Members of the Representative Council Meetings and hopefully the 2017 Blue Economy Summit,”

Mr Francois added.

The PIDF Secretary-General said the PIDF Leaders at this year’s summit focused not only on the PIDF organisational structure but also discussions reflecting on the oceans and the key issues that will happen in 2016 and 2017.

He said the summit also focused on the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the roadmap of the PIDF to the upcoming UN Climate Change Summit (COP22) in Marrakesh, Morocco.

“You know we were all excited that the Paris Agreement was signed though it has not been fully ratified yet. But there is a lot of excitement about what could be done but there are also a lot of difficulties in ensuring that we are not trying to rewrite the Paris Agreement.

“COP22 is not about refining the Paris Agreement. It’s rather about putting in place modalities for its implementation and the Pacific still has a very key role to play in ensuring that we continue the leadership role that we took in Paris, France and that is evident by the work that leaders did in the shaping of the Suva Declaration.”

July 14, 2016 0

FLNKS supports West Papua

Posted: Thursday, July 14, 2016 8:00 am, Compiled by Godwin Ligo

The Spokesperson of the Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) in Kanaky, Victor Tutugoro, yesterday morning re-affirmed his strong support for West Papua to become full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) during the Honiara MSG Leaders’ Summit.

The FLNKS Spokesperson stated this when meeting the Chairman of Vanuatu Free West Papua Association, Pastor Alan Nafuki.

Nafuki assured the FLNKS of Vanuatu’s stand by the churches, the chiefs and the population for the political freedom of the Melanesian people of West Papua and said the Association has already sent its three representatives to Honiara to observe the MSG Leaders Summit.

Mr Tutugoro went in the same flight of Air Niugini yesterday morning with Vanuatu Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, to attend the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ Summit in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

The Kanaky leader arrived in Port Vila last Sunday night from Noumea.

On Monday he met the Vanuatu Prime Minister and on Tuesday paid courtesy calls on State Ministers including Agriculture.

Mr. Tutugoro also took the opportunity to visit the Lycee Louis Antoine de Bouganville and Vanuatu Institute of Technology.

Both Vanuatu learning institutions receive funding assistance from the Northern Province of New Caledonia following Tropical Cyclone Pam in 2015.

On Tuesday evening a special kava ceremony was organized, a gesture of appreciation to the FLNKS Spokesperson Victor Tutugoro, by the Vanuatu Institute of Technology.

The FLNKS did not sign the Communique following the visit of MSG Leaders in West Papua and Indonesia after the Summit that was held in Kanaky.

ligo@dailypost.vu

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

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

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

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

Pacific appeal to the world’s conscience: West Papua Supports Fiji PM’s Speech at PIDF Summit

Pacific appeal to the world’s conscience is the theme that all Melanesian leaders should agree and promote. From West Papua, sharing with Papua New Guinea as the Second Largest Island on Earth, supports the efforts on limiting (global) temperature rise to 1.5 Degrees Centigrade as stated in ‘Suva Declaration on Climate Change’ which became a Pacific appeal to the world’s conscience.

From the Office of Gen. TRWP Mathias Wenda, as the Commander in Chief of the West Papua Revolutionary Army (WPRA), the Secretary-General Lt. Gen. Amunggut Tabi says,

West Papua issue is not just about human rights and security, regional stability and peace, it is more about out Melanesian future, the future of the South Pacific. We need to question ‘Where will we go, what are we Melanesians going to do when the sea level arises, when Western half of our Melaneisan-Island (New Guinea) is already occupied and taken over by Malayo-Indonesia?‘ and we need to be clever, speak for our own future generations. We have our independent nation-states, but our small-island states are under threat of global warming. We need to secure the Isle of New Guinea as our Island for our future generations.

Gen. Tabi also reiterates Gen. Wenda’s message that nobody from out there will become our day-time or night-time or morning-time saviors. We must stand-up for ourselves and for our future generations, and we must stand up together, united as One Melanesian Family, under the umbrella of the ‘Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF)’. Gen. Tabi continues,

We cannot wait, and if we do, there will never be anybody from heavens or earth come to Melanesia to speak on our behalf and on behalf of our future generations. It is our own, primary duty as the parents to begin thinking and acting upon the call for world conscience.

This is why, the Draft Constitution of the Republic of West Papua says the primary goal of West Papua independence is not economic, social nor political one, but it is environmental, holistic one for the sake of Papuans and Melanesians as human society with all other beings that share our islands, waters and skies.

The two WPRA generals also calls on all Melanesian leaders to think more based on Melanesian Wisdom, Melanesian Philosophy and Melanesian Way of Dealing with life issues. They said,

We are rigt now dragged into thinking, talking and acting more for the sake of economic goals. We are dragged into the global modernisation project that sacrifices our own way of living, way of thinking and way of doing things for our own survival and progress.

With the statement of the Fiji Prime Minister, Gen. Tabi expresses his gratitude, on behalf of West Papuan peoples and all communities of beings in the Isle of New Guinea, that this Melanesian wisdom should be fully supported by all Melanesian leaders, be guarded and promoted, not only for our Melanesia future, but also for the sake of life on this planet. Tabi says, Fiji Prime Minister already said we should,

“be an example for the world. Ironically, our efforts and our leadership will not just be for our benefit in the future, they will be for the benefit for the entire planet.”

July 13, 2016 0

New PIDF Chair Expresses Need to Begin Talks on New EU Partnership

By PM Press –July 13, 2016

The new Chair of the Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF), Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands has called on all delegates at the 4th PIDF Leaders’ Summit to make maximum use of the meeting to make decisions that will save the ocean for the good of their countries.
He made the call at the summit opening ceremony at the Lawson Tama Stadium in Honiara this morning.

“Our two-day deliberation on this theme is watched by the peoples and governments that we represent in the region so I therefore urge all of you to make maximum use of the opportunity that we now have to save our ocean for the good of our peoples and thegovernments and countries that we represent.”

The PIDF Chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister said it is an honour for Solomon Islands to host the summit for the first time and be the first nation to host the annual two-day event apart from Fiji- the home of PIDF.

“It is indeed an honour to host the event in Solomon Islands and Iam glad to say that it is not the first time that we hold a regional high-level meeting of this nature but this one is special to us.

“I say it is special because it is the first time for the PIDF Leaders’ Summit to move out of its home base (Fiji).”

Turning to the theme of the event, the PIDF Chair said this year’s summit focuses on the theme of ‘Stewardship for Healthy Oceans and Healthy Nations.’

“This theme recognises the fact that the health, wealth, history, culture and identity of the peoples’ of the Pacific Islands are vast and diverse.

“This theme underpins the role oceans play to the biological diversity of our people. It reinforces the fact that the geographical vastness of our oceans is immeasurable.
“We cannot deny the fact that we are the oceans people. We live by the ocean and we are big ocean states.

“Furthermore, we can easily co-relate the aspirations of the (United Nations) Sustainable Development Goals to the health and welfare of the ocean that we share amongst us.

“Oceans cover approximately 70.8 percent or 361 million square kilometers of the earth’s surface with a volume of about 1,370 million cubic kilometres. The oceans contain 97 percent of our planets available water. In our Pacific region, we can say that careful management of our ocean is key to our sustainable future,” he added.

He further added that the theme of Stewardship for Healthy Oceans and Healthy Nations is also meant to stimulate the intellectual thinking capacities of leaders present at the summit. “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 Islander, I applaud your stewardship for healthy ocean and healthy nations.

The PIDF Chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister said the summit is made even more significant by the presence of PIDF’s Charter Members, Foundational Members and Technical Partners as well as regional and international organisations.

“In this regard, amongst others, I would like to acknowledge the presence of representatives of the state of Kuwait, People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Timor Leste, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Pakistan, United States of America, Pitcairn Islands and the (French) Territory of Wallis and Futuna.”

The PIDF Chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister also acknowledged the participation of Solomon Islands nongovernment organisations, civil society groups, Solomon Games’ Participating teams, youth groups and students from schools around Honiara in the opening ceremony.

“The diversity at this stadium is the very nature that makes the PIDF different from other organisations. This is the unique system of the PIDF that we now cherish and shall preserve in the long run.

“On top of this uniqueness, the PIDF also favours gender, social mix and plural thinking as the basis of a new equality in the format of a tripod.”

July 13, 2016 0

Ro Teimumu: Fiji Menguat Dukung Papua Barat

By Kabar Mapegaa 10.39.00, 13 July 2016

Yogyakarta (KM)—Pemimpin Oposisi Fiji, Ro Teimumu Kepa, mengatakan memberikan dukungan kepada ULMWP pada keanggotaan MSG merupakan sebuah aksi tanggung jawab yang dapat di lakukan oleh setiap Pemimpin Melanesia.

Kepa mengatakan, Indonesia berusaha menjadi keanggotaan blok regional hanya untuk melindungi kepentingan sendiri dan telah menunjukkan rasa tidak hormat kepada keprihatinan Melanesia terhadap Papua, bahwa genosida sedang berlangsung di Papua Barat.

“Ro Teimumu telah menyatakan mendukung penuh untuk ULMWP sebagai keanggotaan penuh pada pertemuan MSG di Honiara”.

Lanjut Dia, mengatakan Indonesia tidak punya keinginan untuk terlibat dalam dialog tentang isu-isu hak asasi manusia dan mereka telah menunjukkan hal ini berkali-kali dalam setiap serangan pandangannya terhadap ‘pejuang kemerdekaan Papua’ dan penindasan kegiatan penentuan nasib mereka.

Ia bergabung dalam ribuan orang Fiji yang merasa kuat tentang perubahan pada posisi negara dan menyuarakan kebebasan dan kemerdekaan Papua Barat, Bebernya lagi.

Dengan memberikan keanggotaan penuh, para pemimpin Melanesia akan langsung menanggapi terhadap keinginan untuk mengakhiri kekerasan waja anggota ULMWP,ungkapnya.

Kepemimpinan KTT MSG adakan pertemuan minggu ini di Honiara, Salomon Island.

Sumber: Radio NZ

July 13, 2016 0

Open up of MSG membership will be discussed in Honiara

SolomonStarNews.com, Published: 13 July 2016

The Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare has told a visiting United Liberation Movement of West Papua delegation that opening up membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group is an idea to be discussed in Honiara at the MSG Leaders’ Summit beginning July 14.

Mr Sogavare made the comment after the General Secretary of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua, Octovinius Mote, wanted to know if new applications for membership of the MSG would be discussed by the Summit.

He instructed officials of the MSG Secretariat to put together the pre-requisites such as rules and guidelines, applicants must understand when applying for membership of the Melanesian Block of which he is Chair.

He added the MSG leaders will have the opportunity to meet Mr Mote and his delegates in Honiara, adding further that Fiji’s support of West Papuans’ struggle for self-rule speaks a lot.

And he said the support for self-rule for the ULMWP by the five MSG members, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia is from the heart.

Meanwhile, the idea of an open up MSG membership could mean International and Regional groups and States that are outside the MSG Block could apply for Full and Associate membership while others could apply for Observer Status if the MSG Leaders’ Summit sanctions it.

United Liberation Movement of West Papua which now holds the Observer status with the MSG is applying for full membership while its ruler, Indonesia, is an Associate member.

By George Atkin,
OPMC Press Secretariat

July 13, 2016 0