West Papuans sold out for ’30 pieces of silver’, says Natuman

By PMC Editor – July 20, 2016

Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister Joe Natuman believes other people are trying to use the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to drive their own agendas, saying it is similar to Jesus Christ who was betrayed and sold for 30 pieces of silver.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) was not admitted as full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group during the Special MSG summit in Honiara, Solomon Islands, last week.

“Our Prime Minister was the only one talking in support of full membership for West Papua in the MSG, the Solomon Islands Prime Minister couldn’t say very much because he is the chairman,” the veteran politician told Buzz FM 96’s Coffee and Controversy host Mark O’Brien.

“Prime Minister Charlot Salwai was the only one defending Melanesians and the history of Melanesian people in the recent MSG meeting in Honiara.

“The MSG, I must repeat, the MSG, which I was a pioneer in setting up, was established for the protection of the identity of the Melanesian people, the promotion of their culture and defending their rights. Right to self determination, right to land and right to their resources.

“Now it appears other people are trying to use the MSG to drive their own agendas and I am sorry but I will insist that MSG is being bought by others.

“It is just like Jesus Christ who was bought for 30 pieces of silver. This is what is happening in the MSG. I am very upset about this and we need to correct this issue.

“Because if our friends in Fiji and Papua New Guinea have a different agenda, we need to sit down and talk very seriously about what is happening within the organisation.

‘It is being bought’

“And I am sorry but I will insist that MSG is being bought by others.”

Asked what transpired at the Honiara Summit, Natuman said that according to the Prime minister’s briefing on his return there were some misunderstandings on what happened in the Officials’ Meeting and the Foreign Ministers meeting.

“What happened was that they presented to the Summit Leaders something which apparently was not discussed at the officers level so this was the problem,” he explained.

“The issue of membership was supposed to be presented to the Leaders.

“Instead, they presented the leaders with a list of criteria for membership.

“This criteria was whether or not organisations or liberation movements should be considered for full membership.

“Finally, our prime minister was the only one talking in support of West Papua membership, the Solomon Islands Prime Minister couldn’t say very much because he is the chairman.”

New Caledonia contrast

On the issue of New Caledonia, Natuman said: “People are now saying we should not be interfering with Indonesia’s sovereignty. But what about New Caledonia? France has held onto New Caledonia.

“In the 1990s, we insisted that New Caledonia was a colonial possession of France, therefore we have the right to intervene .

“And we intervened. Firstly, we asked the people of New Caledonia to form an umbrella grouping, or political parties to support their cause. So they established the FLNKS at Vanuatu’s request.

“Through that means we [have] promoted their issues to the Forum and eventually they were listed in the UN’s listing of colonial territories.

“We have to assist them to get independence, same as [with] West Papua.

“West Papua was forcibly annexed by Indonesia and brutally overthrown. They were in the process of getting their independence in the early 1960s.

“West Papua is very rich in resources, gold, copper and forests thus a lot of Western capitalists were interested in that.

‘We must interfere’

“Now they say we cannot interfere. No, we must interfere. Melanesians are being killed by Asians, we have to interfere.”

The Deputy Prime Minister was part of the panel in yesterday’s 96Buzz FM’s Coffee and Controversy show at the Lava Lounge, which also featured Glen Craig, from Pacific Advisory, and Job Dalesa, who is on the West Papua Reunification Committee.

When asked his opinion on whether MSG has “lost its way” as implied by the DPM, Dalsesa replied: ”I certainly think so, West Papua has a lot of enemies. A lot of people are fighting over this area because of its resources, and by fighting you can do a lot of things, including buying another country and I think this is what they are doing.

“The divide-and-rule tactic is a common tactic that has been used for a long time.”

Yesterday’s show revolved around foreign policy, MSG and the South China Sea dispute.

Jane Joshua is a journalist with the Vanuatu Daily Post.

July 20, 2016 0

Vanuatu Deputy PM: Melanesians Being “Killed By Asians”

Vanuaty Daily Post – Vanuatu’s Deputy Prime Minister has hit out at Indonesia saying Melanesians must speak up for the people of West Papua.

Joe Natuman believes the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) is being swayed by outside interests after it deferred making a decision on awarding full membership to the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).

“West Papua was forcibly annexed by Indonesia and brutally overthrown. They were in the process of getting their independence in the early 1960s,” he told Vanuatu’s Buzz FM 96. “Now they say we cannot interfere, no, we must interfere. Melanesians are being killed by Asians, we have to interfere.”

He says the MSG is failing to meet its charter.

“The MSG, I must repeat, the MSG, which I was a pioneer in setting up was established for the protection of the identity of the Melanesian people, the promotion of their culture and to defend their rights,” he said. “Now it appears other people are trying to use the MSG to drive their own agendas and I am sorry but I will insist that MSG is being bought by others.”

Vanuatu has been a strong supporter of the ULMWP getting full membership but Papua New Guinea and Fiji say it would undermine Indonesia’s sovereignty. Jakarta has confirmed it has been lobbying Melanesian countries intensely.

“If our friends in Fiji and Papua New Guinea have a different agenda, we need to sit down and talk very seriously about what is happening within the organisation,” said Mr Natuman.

July 20, 2016 0

Tak Mau Ada Separatis, Komnas HAM Kecam Pernyataan Sultan

Rabu, 20 Juli 2016 | 18:34 WIB

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta – Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) mengecam pernyataan Gubernur Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta Sultan Hamengku Buwono X yang mengatakan tidak boleh ada separatis di Yogyakarta. Pernyataan itu dikeluarkan Sultan pada 19 Juli 2016 di Kepatihan menanggapi aksi sejumlah mahasiswa Papua di Yogyakarta yang menggelar dukungan atas United Liberation Movement For West Papua (ULMWP). Para mahasiswa Papua itu mendorong ULMWP menjadi anggota Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

“Itu sangat berbahaya. dalam konteks budaya Jawa, itu pengusiran secara halus, bahwa orang Papua tak boleh di Jogja,” kata Komisioner Komnas HAM Natalius Pigai saat ditemui di Asrama Papua Kamasan sesaat sebelum bertolak ke Kepatihan Yogyakarta untuk menemui Sultan, Rabu, 20 Juli 2016.

Mengingat kedudukan Sultan tak hanya sebagai kepala pemerintahan, melainkan juga tokoh nasional dan Raja Jawa. Dan sebagai raja, lanjut Pigai, pernyataan Sultan akan diikuti semua rakyatnya. “Itu penyataan chauvinist pimpinan besar negara. Itu tidak boleh,” kata Pigai sembari mengingatkan adanya jaminan hukum dalam berekspresi dan menyatakan pendapat.

Selain ingin menanyakan ihwal maksud pernyataan Sultan, Pigai juga ingin meminta keterangan soal peran pemerintah dalam memberikan perlindungan kepada para mahasiswa Papua di Yogyakarta.

Juru bicara Persatuan Rakyat untuk Pembebasan Papua Barat (PRPPB) Roy Karoba pun menyesalkan pernyataan Sultan. “Itu menyulitkan kami di sini. Seolah label separatis itu melekat pada orang Papua,” kata Roy saat ditemui di Asrama Papua “Kamasan”.

Dia pun meminta Sultan menyampaikan secara tegas maksud dari pernyataannya soal tak boleh ada separatis di Yogyakarta itu. “Kalau benar itu pengusiran, kami akan angkat kaki dari Jogja,” kata Roy.

Sultan membantah maksud pernyataannya adalah tidak memperbolehkan mahasiswa Papua tinggal di Yogyakarta. Menurut Sultan, aspirasi untuk menentukan nasib sendiri yang dilakukan mahasiswa Papua boleh dilakukan, asalkan tidak disampaikan kepada publik. “Kalau di asrama, silakan. Kalau disampaikan ke publik, di tempat lain sana, tidak di Jogja,” kata Sultan di Kepatihan, Rabu, 20 Juli 2016.

Alasannya, masyarakat Yogyakarta itu untuk Indonesia, bukan Yogyakarta memberi ruang bagi separatis untuk memisahkan diri dari Indonesia. “Itu prinsip. Beberapa kali sudah terjadi dan sudah saya ingatkan. Saya tidak mau Yogyakarta menjadi tempat untuk aspirasi lain,” kata Sultan.

PITO AGUSTIN RUDIANA

July 20, 2016 0

Masyarakat Diminta Bijak Tanggapi Isu SARA

Selasa, 19 Juli 2016, 01:35 WIB, Rep: Eko Supriyadi/ Red: Yudha Manggala P Putra

Sejumlah anggota kepolisian berjaga di depan Asrama Mahasiswa Papua di Yogyakarta, Jumat (15/7).

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Di saat ramai-ramai kasus ‘pengepungan’ mahasiswa Papua di Yogyakarta, ada kelompok-kelompok yang menyulut isu SARA (Suku, Agama, Ras, dan Antargolongan). Pakar komunikasi Universitas Brawijaya Anang Sujoko menilai, hal ini terjadi karena persoalan dijadikan sebuah wacana publik, sehingga masyarakat bebas menyampaikan ekspresi.

Pada akhirnya, masyarakat cenderung emosi dalam provokasi-provokasi di media sosial yang tidak terkontrol. ”Tetapi, itu ada muatan komentar orang, yang memicu orang lain untuk berkomentar liar dan tidak santun yang pada akhirnya berujung pada SARA,” kata Anang, saat dihubungi, Senin (18/7).

Apalagi, opini-opini liar itu tidak dilandaskan dengan fakta-fakta yang ada, dan lebih mengedepankan emosi. Karena itu, Anang berharap masyarakat agar arif dan bijaksana dalam bersuara.

Intinya, saya berharap kembali semua media sosial, masyarakat harus cenderung arif dan bijaksana dalam bersuara. Karena akan dibaca dan mudah disebarkan kepada orang lain. Begitu juga jika ingin komentar mesti dipertimbangkan matang-matang.

Apalagi, isu HAM dan SARA sangat sensitif untuk diangkat media sosial dan media mainstream, yang dalam waktu cepat bisa menjadi viral di masyarakat.

Sementara itu, Pengamat Komunikasi Politik UIN Syarif Hidatatullah Gun Gun Heriyanto, mengimbau agar masalah ini disikapi bijak oleh berbagai pihak. Supaya tidak salah paham, sehingga membahayakan aspek kohesi sosial dan politik.

Ekspresi kebebasan harusnya dipergunakan dengan baik. Jangan merasa karena ada kebebasan berekspresi yang kemudian berlebihan. ”Yang menyikapi mesti wise, yang memberi stimulan seperti di opini, dengan spanduk dan pendapat mestinya mementingkan kepentingan publik. Tapi dua-duanya mesti bijak,” ujarnya.

July 19, 2016 0

Sri Sultan: Separatis tak Punya Tempat di Yogya

Rep: Neni Ridarineni/ Red: Teguh Firmansyah, Selasa, 19 Juli 2016, 16:43 WIB

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Gubernur DIY Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X mengatakan orang Papua itu tidak sekedar saudara bagi masyarakat Yogyakarta, tetapi bagian dari bangsa Indonesia.

‘’Karena itu bagi yang punya aspirasi separatis jangan tinggal di Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta sudah kondusif bagian dari Republik Indonesia,’’ tegas Sultan pada wartawan usai acara pamitan Kontingen Jumbara (Jumpa Bakti Gembira) PMR (Palang Merah Remaja) VIII 2016 PMI DIY di Kepatihan Yogyakarta, Selasa (19/7).

Dia mengatakan setiap tahun selalu memperingatkan kepada orang Papua yang tinggal di Yogyakarta jangan melakukan aspirasi separatis. Mereka setiap tahun selalu memperingati OPM (Organisasi Papua Merdeka).

“Karena itu saya minta kepada teman-teman (red. orang Papua) sebangsa, sesaudara jangan punya aspirasi separatis,’ ’tuturnya.

Sultan pun mengatakan, Kamis (21/7), seluruh ormas se DIY mau ketemu dia. ‘’Mereka akan bertemu saya terkait dengan Papua, bagaimana? Mereka akan mempertanyakan kenapa saya memberikan ruang kepada Papua,’’ ujar Raja Keraton Yogyakarta ini.

Ketika ditanya tentang keinginan anggota DPRD Papua untuk bertemu Gubernur DIY Sri Sultan HamengkuBuwono X, Sultan mempersilakan. ”Silakan saja kalau mau bertemu saya. Tetapi saya belum menerima suratnya,”kata dia.

July 19, 2016 0

Tito Harus Jelaskan Peristiwa Penahanan Mahasiswa Papua di Yogya

Google Papua— Direktur Riset Setara Institute dan Pengajar Hukum Tata Negara UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Ismail Hasani, mengatakan sejak setahun terakhir, warga negara Indonesia asal Papua mengalami kekerasan berlanjut, akibat pelarangan menyampaikan aspirasi melalui demontrasi dan kebebasan berekspresi lainnya.

“Kejadian terakhir adalah peristiwa kekerasan di Yogyakarta pada tanggal 15 Juli kemarin,” kata Ismail melalui pernyataan tertulis yang diterima Suara.com, hari ini.

Ismail menambahkan demonstrasi adalah bentuk kebebasan berekspresi apapun tema yang disampaikannya. Bahkan, aspirasi pembebasan Papua juga sah untuk disampaikan dalam sebuah demonstrasi sebagai bentuk protes atas ketidakadilan yang dialami oleh warga Papua. Selama demonstrasi itu disampaikan secara damai dan tidak adanya tindakan permulaan yang menunjukkan adanya makar, maka polisi apalagi ormas tidak boleh membatasi, melarang, dan menghakimi dengan kekerasan, katanya.

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

“Dengan melibatkan atau membiarkan ormas, maka polisi terhindar dari tuduhan melakukan kekerasan. Padahal, membiarkan seseorang atau ormas melakukan kekerasan adalah tindakan pelanggaran HAM (violation by omission),” kata dia.

Kapolri Jenderal Tito Karnavian, katanya, harus menjelaskan peristiwa Yogyakarta secara gamblang agar kepercayaan publik tidak segera luntur di masa kepemimpinannya. Memang, kata Ismail, Tito punya pandangan agak konservatif perihal pembatasan HAM, seperti dalam kasus teorisme.

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

kata Ismail.

Polri, katanya, harus bertindak adil dengan menghukum anggota ormas yang melakukan kekerasan. Apapun argumen ormas tersebut, rasisme, hate speech, dan kekerasan telah secara nyata diperagakan. Tindakan main hakim sendiri (vigilantisme) adalah pelanggaran hukum, kata Ismail.

Ini merupakan buntut peristiwa pada Jumat (15/7/2016), dimana dari aparat kepolisikan melakukan penebalan keamanan di Asrama Mahasiswa Papua. Pengamanan diperketat karena adanya aktivitas dan simbol-simbol OPM di sana. Polisi bertindak dengan alasan konsinsten mengawal keutuhan NKRI. Dalam peristiwa tersebut, kepolisian mengamankan beberapa aktivis.

July 19, 2016 0

Bambang Widodo,Pengamat Kepolisian Mengatakan : Pengepungan Hambat Ruang Demokrasi

JAKARTA Google Papua–Pengamat Kepolisian Bambang Widodo Umar menyebutkan, dinamika Polri jangan sampai menghambat proses demokratisasi yang sudah berjalan. Polri harus memahami dirinya dekat dengan masyarakat sipil yang sifatnya terbuka dan tidak melakukan tindakan otoriter.

”Itu (pengepungan) cara kerja polisi yang jauh dari civilian police, militeristik. Bentuk ini harus diubah, kalau tidak demokrasi akan terhambat,” ucap Widodo, Senin (18/7).

Hal itu dibuktikan dengan tindakan polisi menghalang-halangi masyarakat yang hendak menyampaikan aspirasinya. Menurutnya, polisi bertugas melindungi kemanusiaan, bukan malah membunuh kemanusiaan itu sendiri.

Widodo khawatir, tindakan polisi itu bisa memicu simpati dari masyarakat, sehingga menyebabkan protes yang lebih besar. Padahal, polisi bisa menggunakan pendekatan dengan cara dialog agar tidak menimbulkan sikap antipati dari masyarakat umum.

”Presiden harus turun tangan, perlu teguran kepada kapolri dari Presiden. Mempertahankan NKRI bukan dengan cara persatuan yang dipaksa,” tutur dia.

Amir Al-Rahab, pemerhati Papua, menilai, desakan agar Papua Barat merdeka bukan merupakan hal baru di Indonesia. Ia menyebutkan, protes ini sudah berlangsung hampir selama 50 tahun.

”Ini kan bukan barang baru, kok kayak baru menghadapi anak kemarin sore,” sesal dia.

Amir, menyatakan, tindakan polisi itu menunjukkan kecerdasan pemerintah tidak berkembang. Apa yang terjadi di Yogyakarta sangat riskan memicu kemarahan rakyat Papua.

Sebelumnya, Polda Yogyakarta membantah telah melakukan pembiaran terkait dugaan insiden penyerangan mahasiswa Papua. Kehadiran polisi di lokasi perkara justru untuk mencegah timbulnya keributan antara mahasiswa dan organisasi masyarakat setempat.

Kepala Biro Operasional Polda DIY Kombes Bambang Pristiwanto menjelaskan, tidak pernah melakukan aksi kekerasan, seperti informasi yang telah tersiar di sejumlah media massa dan media sosial.

“Kami melakukan penebalan pengamanan dan mengimbau mereka untuk tidak keluar dari asrama. Kegiatan mereka tidak ada izin dari kepolisian karena akan membawa simbol-simbol OPM,” katanya. rep: Eko Supriyadi, ed: Muhammad Hafil.

July 19, 2016 0

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

By PM Press – July 15, 2016

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

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

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

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

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

July 18, 2016 0

Supporting sustainable development through trade, transport facilitation and port efficiency

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

July 17, 2016 0

Disagreements on West Papua membership to MSG

4:24 pm GMT+12, 17/07/2016, Solomon Islands

Disagreements remain among leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) on the issues of West Papua’s full membership even though an agreed communiqué stated that the deferral was a secretarial issue.

Since the agreed communiqué from the MSG special leaders’ summit in Honiara was announced publicly, leaders from the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Kanak National Socialist Liberation Front (FLNKS) have publicly disagreed with the outcome, saying the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) deserves full membership to the MSG.

In respective interviews with PACNEWS, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare (Solomon Islands), Prime Minister Charlot Salwai (Vanuatu), Victor Tutugoro (FLNKS), said they support the aspirations for the self-determination of the people of West Papua and the full membership of ULMWP to the MSG.

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, said the issue of membership, in particular the discussions of the membership of Melanesians of West Papua through the ULMWP as a full Member into the Melanesian family is a long time cry by Melanesians around the world including my country.

“Admitting ULMWP or Melanesians into the MSG should be the same basis for admitting the Kanaky through the FLNKS. Vanuatu has always believed that other Melanesians are ready to be admitted into the MSG family,”

said Prime Minister Salwai.

He said Vanuatu is adamant that being Melanesians they should not be subject to any form of criteria.

“We want meaningful dialogue and we can only do this when we are together. Vanuatu therefore gravely regrets the deferral of the admission of ULMWP on the matter of criteria, a clear sign that officials and the secretariat fell short in carrying out their duties consistent with the fundamental founding principles of this eminent organisation for Melanesians.”

FLNKS Spokesperson, Victor Tutugoro, shared similar sentiments, saying that all Melanesians deserved similar treatment at the MSG and as leaders there is a responsibility to protect and give voice to Melanesians in West Papua.

Tutugoro said he was not pleased with the deferral, stressing that there is a great need to support ULMWP’s political recognition at the MSG, thus, it would strengthen its political aspirations at the international level such as the UN.

“We Kanaky people were granted membership in a similar struggle to our brothers and sisters in West Papua and we feel that the same should be given to West Papuans as they are rightfully Melanesians and they need our Melanesian leaders support.”

Meanwhile, Fiji’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, while speaking on behalf of the Fiji government said Fiji respects the sovereignty of the people and government of Indonesia.

“We as the MSG must always respect the sovereignty of all member or associated countries of the MSG. To do otherwise would undermine the premise of the MSG. Because only through respect of sovereignty and commitment to dialogue can we reach mutual understanding,” said Ratu Inoke.

SOURCE: PACNEWS

July 17, 2016 0