Tuduhan NKRI terhadap Negara Pasifik Selatan dan Tanggapan Indonesia (2)

Dalam tuduhannya, Indonesia mengatakan beberapa hal yang patut dicatat

pernyataan tersebut tidak memiliki itikad baik dan bermotif politik yang bisa ditafsirkan sebagai pendukung kelompok separatis di provinsi-provinsi yang telah terlibat dalam menghasut kekacauan publik dan dalam serangan teroris bersenjata terhadap warga sipil dan personel keamanan. <Indonesia Menuduh Solomon Punya Motif Politik Angkat Isu Papua>

Pertama, Indonesia menuduh Solomon Islands dan koleganya di Pasifik Selatan “tidak memiliki itikad baik”; kedua “bisa ditafsirkan sebagai pendukung kelompok separatis”;  ketiga “menghasut kekacauan politik”, keempat, “kekerasan publik dan serangan teroris bersenjata terhadap warga sipil dan personel keamanan”.


Kedua, intervensi oleh Enam Negara Pasifik Selatan dalam Sidang Umum PBB tahun 2016 ini dianggap oleh Indonesia “bisa ditafsirkan sebagai kelompok pendukung separatis”.  Indonesia lupa, bahwa NKRI adalah sebuah kesatuan politik separatis, Sukarno, Moh. Hatta, Sudirman, semua pejuang NKRI merdeka dan Indonesia sebagai sebuah negara yang diwakili di Sidang Umum PBB saat berbicara, adalah sebuah “Negara Separatis”, karena ia telah memberontak terhadap negara kolonialnya, Belanda.

Pemberontakan terhadap penjajah ialah tujuan dari pembentukan PBB. Penegakkan HAM ialah alasan mengapa PBB didirikan. Piagam PBB dengan jelas-jelas mengatakan HAM sebagai dasar pendirian dan keberadaan PBB. Hak Asasi Manusia yang fundamental ialah hak hidup, dan hak hidup sebagai orang Papua terancam oleh kehadiran NKRI. Oleh karena itu, NKRI harus keluar dari Tanah Papua untuk keberlangsungan hidup sebuah ras Melanesia dan sebuah bangsa Papua.

Ini bukan tindakan separtis, tetapi sebuah perbuatan luhur untuk “menghapuskan penjajahan di seluruh dunia”, karena tidak sesuai dengan peri kemanusiaan sebagaimana NKRI sendiri nyatakan dalam mukadimah UUD 1945. Bukan bangsa Indonesia saja berhak merdeka dan berdaulat, bangsa Papua juga berhak untuk merdeka dan berdaulat. Apa yang dilakukan orang Papua bukan separatis, ini merupakan perjuangan mempertahankan jatidiri, membela sebagai “basic human nature” dalam mempertahankan eksistensinya di Bumi.

Apa yang dikatakan keenam negara Pasifik Selatan ini, bukan “bisa ditafsirkan”, tetapi sudah jelas harus ditafsirkan sebagai dukungan mereka terhadap perjuangan kemerdekaan West Papua. NKRI berhak membela diri, tetapi keenam negara Pasifik Selatan juga berhak menyatakan kebenaran sesungguhnya tentang situasi terakhir di Tanah Papua.

Situsai terakhir di Tanah Papua sangat jelas. Orang Papua dibunuh hampir setiap hari. Setiap detik hidup orang Papua tidak menentu, orang Papua selalu punya pertanyaan, “Kapan saya akan dibunuh?” Bahkan Gubernur, Kapolda Papua saat ini, semuanya pasti punya pertanyaan ini di dalam hati nuraninya. Dan dalam setiap orang Papua tersimpan pertanyaan sampai mati-pun membawa pertanyaan tersebut, “Kapan Indonesia bunuh saya?”

Ini situasi kemanusiaan yang sangat fatal. Dan itu bukan dapat ditafsirkan seabagai dukungan terhadap separatisme.

Pemimpin Pasifik Selatan jelas-jelas menyatakan soal pelanggaran HAM dan penentuan nasib sendiri tidak dapat dipisahkan satu sama lain karena justru perjuangan kemerdekaan West Papua itulah yang mengakibatkan banyak pelanggaran HAM

Di atas kepentingan negara, kepentingan nasionalisme, kepentingan politik, kepentingan ekonomi, kepentingan kekayaan, kepentingan kedamaian, kestabilan, kepentingan persahabatan, itikad baik atau buruk apapun itu, yang pertama dan terutama ialah hak fundamental orang untuk hidup. Dan hak itu terancam di Tanah Papua oleh kehadiran NKRI.

Itulah sebabnya, apa yang dikatakan Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Nauru, Tuvalu, Marshal Islands dan Tonga adalah sesuatu yang tidak bisa dinegasikan, dibatasi atau disangkal aas nama nasionalisme, NKRI harga mati, integritas wilayah negara, dan sebagainya.

Negara manapun itu buatan Indonesia. Nasionalisme manaun itu aspirasi manusia. Kepentingan politik, ekonomi dan pembangunan itu proyek manusia. Tetapi menyangkut nyawa dan hak asasi manusia, itu terkait langsung dengan Sang Pencipta, karena Dialah Pencipta dan Dialah pula berhak mencabut nyawa orang. Selain daripada itu, atas nama apapun, adalah kejahatan. Dan pembalasan ialah hak Tuhan, Dia pasti akan membalaskannya, entah dalam bentuk apapun, kapan-pun, entah bagaimana-pun, pembalasan itu pasti dan amin!

Solomon Islands Repeats Call for Independent Assessment of West Papua

SolomonTimesOnline – The Solomon Islands representative in Geneva, Switzerland, has repeated calls for Indonesia to allow a UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit West Papua and Papua Provinces.

Minister Councilor at the Solomon Islands Mission in Geneva, Switzerland, Barrett Salato made the call at the start of the 33rd Human Rights Council Meeting in Geneva on Monday this week.

Mr. Salato highlighted a “worrying trend by the Member States resisting human rights scrutiny by the work of the Council.”

“More unsettling is the fact that some large democracies who profess to uphold universal human rights values are evading scrutiny on their domestic human rights practices by shielding such practices behind the principle of non-interference.”

Mr Salato says that the Solomon Islands share the view that protecting human rights of all people requires collective responsibilities and continues to condemn violations of human rights whenever it occurs.

Tiga negara tegaskan hak penentuan nasib sendiri West Papua di PBB

Perdana Menteri Kepulauan Solomon, Manasseh Sogavare, dalam pidatonya dihadapan Majelis Umum PBB Jumat, (23/9/2016) mendukung hak penentuan nasib sendiri West Papua - unmultimedia.org
Perdana Menteri Kepulauan Solomon, Manasseh Sogavare, dalam pidatonya dihadapan Majelis Umum PBB Jumat, (23/9/2016) mendukung hak penentuan nasib sendiri West Papua – unmultimedia.org

Manasseh Sogavare menekankan hubungan tak terpisahkan antara pelanggaran HAM dan kehendak penentuan nasib sendiri West Papua sebagai dua sisi pada mata koin yang sama, karena keinginan menentukan nasib sendiri itu berdampak langsung pada pelanggaran HAM yang dialami oleh rakyat West Papua selama ini.

Jayapura, Jubi – Tiga negara, Kepulauan Solomon, Vanuatu dan Tuvalu, menekankan dukungan mereka atas hak penentuan nasib sendiri West Papua di hadapan sesi Debat Majelis Umum PBB ke-71, Jumat (23/9/2016) di New York City-Amerika Serikat.

Pelanggaran HAM dan kehendak penentuan nasib sendiri West Papua adalah dua sisi pada mata koin yang sama, karena keinginan untuk menentukan nasib sendiri itu berdampak langsung pada pelanggaran HAM yang dialami oleh rakyat West Papua selama ini.

Manasseh Sogavare menekankan hubungan tak terpisahkan itu dalam pesan pidatonya untuk West Papua sepanjang 1 Menit 79 detik di hadapan 193 negara-negara anggota PBB.

“Kepulauan Solomon ikut prihatin atas pelanggaran HAM terhadap orang Melanesia di West Papua. Pelanggaran HAM di West Papua dan perjuangan untuk mendapatkan hak penentuan nasib sendiri adalah dua sisi dari koin yang sama,” tegasnya.
Dia menyatakan berbagai laporan terkait pelanggaran HAM di West Papua menunjukkan bahwa keinginan menentukan nasib sendiri berdampak langsung pada pelanggaran HAM yang dilakukan oleh Indonesia di Papua yang bertujuan untuk memperkecil segala bentuk oposisi (terhadap Indonesia).

Secara khusus Perdana Menteri Solomon juga menggarisbawahi penghormatan terhadap kedaulatan suatu negara sebagai hal yang penting. Namun, dia tegaskan, keabsahan yurisdiksi (status hukum) atas kedaulatan tersebut juga harus menjadi perhatian.

“Jika yurisdiksi kedaulatan itu berdiri atas dasar rangkaian keputusan yang masih dipertanyakan, maka sudah sepatutnya menggunggat keabsahaan argumen kedaulatan itu, dalam hal ini terkait keputusan New York Agreement 1962, dan Penentuan Pendapat Rakyat (PEPERA) 1969 (di West Papua),” ujar dia.

New York Aggrement 1962 adalah kesepakatan yang ditandatangani oleh Belanda dan Indonesia terkait administrasi teritori West New Guinea (sekarang Propinsi Papua dan Papua Barat).

Kesepakatan itu meminta PBB menangani administrasi teritori tersebut, dan menetapkan syarat-syarat sosial yang harus dipenuhi PBB sebelum pemindahan kekuasaan administrasi kepada pemerintah Indonesia. Kesepakatan tersebut ditandatangani 15 Agustus di Markas Besar PBB, New York City difasilitasi oleh Amerika Serikat.

Hal senada dinyatakan oleh Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, Perdana Menteri Republik Vanuatu, yang meneruskan pernyataan Manasseh Sogavare untuk mendesak PBB mengambil inisiatif dan tindakan kongkrit untuk mengatasi persoalan West Papua.

“Masalah HAM di West Papua masih belum terurai. Dengan keyakinan moral yang sama seperti yang disampaikan sebelumnya, mendesak PBB mengambil tindakan kongkrit untuk mengatasi persoalan ini. PBB hendaknya tidak tutup mata atas HAM yang dilanggar di West Papua. Rakyat di sana sudah meminta dukungan PBB dan mencari terang atas harapan mereka terhadap kebebasan untuk menjalankan hak azasi di atas tanah mereka agar dapat bebas menegaskan kembali identitanya,” ujar Salwai.
Sementara itu, Enele Sosene Sopoaga, Perdana Menteri Tuvalu, menekankan prinsip penentuan nasib sendiri sebagai hak yang harus dihormati dan dimuliakan.

“Pelanggaran HAM di West Papua dan kehendak mereka untuk mendapatkan hak penentuan nasib sendiri, adalah kenyataan. Kenyataan itu tidak boleh terus menerus diabaikan oleh lembaga besar dan aula hebat ini. Badan ini harus memperhitungkan, tidak boleh membiarkan tindakan-tindakan yang bersembunyi dibalik topeng “non-intervensi” dan kedaulatan, sebagai alasan untuk tidak bertindak apa-apa,” tegas Sopoaga dengan nada yang sama atas sikapnya terhadap Taiwan.

Dia menuntut PBB harus bertindak terkait isu tersebut, “dan mencari solusi yang bisa dikerjakan untuk memberi otonomi bagi masyarakat asli West Papua,” ujarnya.

Respon Pemerintah Indonesia

Sehari sebelumnya, Kamis (22/9/2016) Presiden Kepulauan Marshall, Hilda Heine, perempuan pertama yang memimpin di kawasan Pasifik, juga menegaskan komitmen negaranya terhadap hak azasi manusia di West Papua, dan meminta PBB melakukan kerja kongkrit.

“Saya meminta Dewan HAM PBB memulai penyelidikan yang kredibel dan independen terhadap pelanggaran HAM yang terjadi di West Papua,” ujarnya.
Demikian pula Nauru (22/9) menekankan keprihatinannya terhadap situasi West Papua.

“Nauru juga sangat prihatin atas situasi yang terjadi di West Papua, termasuk pelanggaran HAM seperti yang ditekankan oleh hasil komunike Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), bahwa penting segera ada dialog terbuka dan konstruktif dengan Indonesia terkait situasi ini.”
Terkait hal itu, Kepulauan Solomon meminta negara Indonesia bekerja sama mengatasi pelanggaran HAM di West Papua.

“Menambah suara-suara dari negara-negara anggota lainnya; organisasi masyarakat sipil, yang prihatin atas pelanggaran HAM di West Papua; sebagai pemimpin MSG, dimana Indonesia sebagai associate member dan ULMWP sebagai observer, Kepulauan Solomon menegaskan perlunya hubungan konstruktif dengan indonesia dan berharap agar indonesia bekerja sama untuk mengatasi pelanggaran HAM di Papua,” ujar Sogavare di pengujung pidatonya terkait West Papua.

Seperti diketahui, Kepulauan Solomon memimpin Koalisi Kepulauan Pasifik untuk West Papua (PICWP) yang didukung oleh Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Nauru, Kepulauan Marshall, Tonga, FLNKS-Kaledonia Baru, ULMWP dan Aliansi NGO Kepulauan Pasifik (PIANGO).

Wakil Presiden RI Jusuf Kalla, pada kesempatan yang sama, Jumat (23/9) tampak tidak memberikan pernyataan apapun terkait West Papua. Wapres Kalla menegaskan komitmen Indonesia pada perdamaian dunia, persoalan Israel dan Palestina serta isu-isu pembangunan secara umum.

Seperti diketahu, keputusan komunike Pasifik Islands Forum (PIF) tahun 2015 membentuk misi ‘Tim Pencari Fakta’ ke West Papua, tidak ditanggapi pemerintah Indonesia karena tidak nyaman dengan istilah tersebut, sambil terus menegaskan kedaulatan Indonesia atas West Papua.

Berdasarkan laporan Human Right Watch (HRW) tahun 2015, yang bertajuk Indonesia’s Restrictions on Media Freedom and Rights Monitoring in Papua, sejak tahun 2006 hingga tahun 2013, upaya utusan-utusan khusus PBB memonitor persoalan HAM di Papua tidak membuahkan hasil.

Bulan Januari 2006, Juan Mendez, special envoy Sekjen PBB terkait pencegahan genosida, menyatakan keprihatinannya atas hambatan pemerintah Indonesia terhadap pengawasan HAM di Papua. Pada tahun 2013, pemerintah Indonesia juga tidak menggubris permintaan kunjungan oleh Special Rapporteur PBB, Frank La Rue, terkait promosi dan perlindungan hak berpendapat dan berekspresi.

“Dengan nada ramah, mereka berjanji: ‘Ya, kami sedang menentukan tanggal yang tepat, kami senang sekali menerima anda, dan sedang mencari tanggal yang tepat.’ Namun tanggal itu tidak pernah ada. Itu kan bentuk penolakan dengan cara halus. Saya kira itu menunjukkan banyak hal sedang disembunyikan di Papua,” ujar Frank La Rue seperti dikutip oleh laporan tersebut.(*)

Solomons urges Indonesia to allow Papua scrutiny

RNZ – Solomon Islands has again called on Indonesia to cooperate with the United Nations Human Rights Council to allow a UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit its Papua region.

A march through the streets of Honiara in support of West Papua's bid 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 call was made by a Solomons official Barrett Salato at the Human Rights Council Meeting in Geneva.

Mr Salato said there was a worrying trend by member states resisting human rights scrutiny by the Council.

A march through the streets of Honiara in support of West Papua's bid for MSG membership
A march through the streets of Honiara in support of West Papua’s bid for MSG membership Photo: Supplied

He said some large democracies professed to uphold universal human rights values but evaded scrutiny of their domestic practices by claiming non-interference in their sovereign affairs.

Mr Salato said Solomon Islands had consistently raised its concerns about human rights violations in West Papua and called for independent investigations of the reports.

PM, UN Christian Mission President Meet In New York

PMPress Office – The President of the Christian Mission for the United Nations Community, Dr Garry Allen yesterday, Monday 19th September, met with Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare, inspiring him about the difference between the politician and statesperson and the challenges to the latter.

The President of the Christian Mission for the United Nations Committee, Dr Allen, with Prime Minister Sogavare and the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Gold Ridge, Hon Tovosia and the Caucus Chairman, Hon Fiulaua after their meeting.

The meeting was held at the margin of the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York, where Prime Minister Sogavare and other heads of governments and heads of states of UN member countries are in attendance.

Dr Allen said he is convinced that the statesperson uses the authority of his/her office to serve the welfare of the people, has vision to improve the society, is receptive to the work of God in peoples’ lives, is dependent on God and accountable to him, is willing to take political risks in order to do the right thing and relentlessly strives to achieve his/her national vision.

He said in contrary, the politician thinks only of the next election, thinks only about the success of his/her party and is satisfied to make a drift.

The President of the Christian Mission for the UN Community said people the world-over are pleading for their government officials to be visionary leaders who care about their welfare and the authority of the office they hold to help them reach their God-given potential, adding that the demand for and expectation for transparency and accountability are fuelling this movement.

Dr Allen said he believes that God has been very active in Solomon Islands because all Solomon Islands Government officials he has had the privilege of meeting over the last few decades were passionate about following God and fulfilling his mission on Earth.

He said he is available to serve Prime Minister Sogavare and all others in leadership positions in Solomon Islands, adding that he sees serving Solomon Islands as the opportunity to experience blessings that few other nations have had because of their willingness to obey God.

Prime Minister Sogavare in response acknowledged the words of inspiration from Dr Allen and told him of his personal experiences as a politician striving to ensure the implementation of policy intentions that he believes would bring about positive changes to the country in the face of political challenges.

He said he draws inspiration from King Solomon’s reliance on God for wisdom and guidance in his leadership over Israel and also acknowledgement of the fear of God as the beginning of wisdom.

Prime Minister Sogavare said after taking office for the third time in late 2014 as Solomon Islands Prime Minister, his office introduced a daily devotional programme as introduction to each new working day and this has been a great enlightenment to him and his staff.

Prime Minister Sogavare also said he would like to see Dr Allen visit Solomon Islands one day to fulfil his desire to serving Solomon Islanders in leadership position including himself.

Also present at the meeting were the Chairman of Government Caucus, Hon Jackson Fiulaua and Chairman of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Gold Ridge, Hon Bradley Tovosia.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare today undertook Solomon Islands first engagement as Vice-President of the 71st United Nations General Assembly when he chaired the UN-OHRLLS dialogue on Climate Displacement and Dignity: Needs of the Most Vulnerable countries.

UN-OHRLLS stands for United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States.

“Climate Displacement as a growing issue faced by millions of people and its impacts can be felt at the international. Regional, national and sub-national levels

“As climate change disproportionately affects the socio-economic development of the most vulnerable countries in the world including LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, climate-induced migration both within and across borders in those countries deserves immediate attention and effective response from the international community.

“Within this context, this meeting aims to share experiences and identify challenges faced by LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS in coping with climate displacement, and brainstorm on a strategy for a cohesive international approach across current international processes to protect climate displaced people,” the UN-OHRLLS stated.

Speaking after chairing the first UNGA dialogue, Prime Minister Sogavare said he was honoured to represent Solomon Islands in this important engagement and other UN engagements as well as other side-events that he will undertake during the course of this week in New York.

New York is 14 hours behind Solomon Islands.

Kepulauan Solomon akan Pimpin Advokasi Isu-isu Papua Barat

Jayapura, Jubi – Kepulauan Solomon akan memimpin advokasi terkait isu-isu pelanggaran HAM di Papua Barat oleh mandat pertemuan Forum Menteri-Menteri Luar Negeri di Suva, Fiji, minggu lalu.

Tak saja berhasil menjadi salah satu dari enam inisiatif yang terdaftar untuk menjadi pertimbangan bagi para pemimpin di forum Menteri Luar Negeri Pasifik, kini isu-isu Papua Barat akan dipimpin langsung advokasinya oleh pemerintah Kepulauan Solomon.

Hal itu ditegaskan Joseph Ma’ahanua, Sekretaris Permanen untuk Urusan Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan Internasional Kepulauan Solomon, yang mengatakan pada SIBC news Kamis lalu (18/8/2016), bahwa negaranya merasa senang dan terhormat karena mandat sebagai peran kunci tersebut akan memelihara ruang bagi isu-isu Papua Barat menjadi lebih luas dan bermomentum panjang.

“Kami merasa senang karena faktanya isu-isu Papua Barat akan terus berlanjut dan dikelola dalam agenda-agenda yang dihasilkan dari laporan-laporan komite resmi Forum Menteri-Menteri tersebut dan akan dipresentasikan kepada para pemimpin,” ujarnya.

Hal ini akan membuat Kepulauan Solomon berada di posisi memimpin untuk memastikan isu-isu Papua Barat terus diadvokasi secara aktif di kalangan para pemimpin forum.

Sebelumnya, Emele Duituturaga, Direktur Pacific Islands Association of NGOs (PIANGO), juga menyatakan optimismenya terkait tekanan masyarakat sipil di Pasifik yang terus meningkat dalam mengadvokasi isu-isu terkait HAM dan dekolonisasi Papua Barat.

“Jadi ini membesarkan hati kami setelah melihat Papua Barat berada dalam daftar inisiatif untuk pertimbangan para pemimpin dalam ringkasan rekomendasi yang disusun oleh Forum Spesialis Sub-Komite Regonal,” kata Duituturaga.(*)

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

PM Sogavare Calls on PIDF Leaders for Ocean-Friendly Decisions

By PM Press – July 15, 2016

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

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.”

 

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

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.”

Solomons PM Reiterates Papua Stand

7:57 am on 18 May 2016, Radio NZ

The Solomon Islands prime minister has reiterated his support for full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group for the United Liberation Movement of West Papua.

Manasseh Sogavare, who is also the chairman of the MSG, has returned from a visit to Port Vila where he announced his intention to support Vanuatu and push to elevate the Liberation Movement from its current observer status in the group.

He also confirmed his plan to request United Nations intervention in West Papua due to ongoing alleged human rights abuses by the Indonesian security forces

Mr Sogavare has criticised Indonesia for not taking up repeated efforts by the MSG and Pacific Islands governments to establish dialogue with Jakarta over concerns about West Papua.

United Liberation Movement for West Papua members Mama Yosepha Alomang, Edison Waromi, AndyAyamiseba and Jacob Rumbiak with the Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare (centre),
United Liberation Movement for West Papua members Mama Yosepha Alomang, Edison Waromi, Andy Ayamiseba and Jacob Rumbiak with the Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare (centre), Photo: MSG

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