Pacific Coalition On West Papua Gains Momentum

PMPress – The Pacific Coalition on West Papua (PCWP) is gaining momentum with the addition of two new members and the confirmation of the membership of two other parties who indicated their profound support for the initiative since its introduction in Honiara, Solomon Islands in July this year.

The PCWP was initiated by Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands who is also the Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group with the aim of securing the support of the wider Pacific region for preposition of taking up the issue of West Papua with the United Nations for intervention. The initial membership comprises Solomon Islands Government, Vanuatu Government, Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) and the United Liberation Movement of West Papua and the Pacific Islands Alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO).

The two new members are the governments of Tuvalu and the Republic of Nauru who were respectively represented at the first meeting of the in the capital of the American Aloha State, Honolulu, yesterday Friday 2nd September, by Prime Minister Hon Enele Sopoaga and Her Excellency Marlene Moses. The latter serves as Nauru’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

The other two parties who indicated support for the initiative when it was introduced in Honiara at the margin of the 4th Pacific Islands Development Summit are the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Marshall Islands. The expressed support of the governments of these two countries was confirmed today with the attendance of Prime Minister Hon Akilisi Pohiva and the Republic of Marshall Islands Minister for Public Works, Hon David Paul.

Members and friends of the Pacific Coalition on West Papua at the East-West Centre in Honolulu.
Members and friends of the Pacific Coalition on West Papua with the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor at the East-West Centre in Honolulu.

All the initial PCWP members were represented at the meeting except for the Republic of Vanuatu Government. The Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor was also present at the meeting.

In his opening remarks today, Prime Minister Sogavare said the nations of the Pacific have a duty as closest neigbours to West Papua to address the issues of concern to West Papuan.

He said the right to self-determination being denied to the people of West Papua since the last 50 years is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter, just like the rights to life and dignity that they are also denied as a result of their self-determination pursuit.

He added that the intention of the PCWP is perfectly in line with the principles of human rights and democracy, the very basis of the UN Charter, which all UN Member states should adhere to and protect.

IMG_0153
Members and friends of the Pacific Coalition on West Papua during their meeting.

Prime Minister Sogavare said it would not be an easy task to unwind the wrongs that have been perpetrated by the complications and cover-up on the issue of West Papua over the years and this is where the need for collaborative and strategic approaches to this issue comes in.

“Only by working together and strategically dealing with the issue of West Papua can we accomplish the objective of our mission,” he said.

PIF Secretary-General Dame Taylor in her contribution to the discussions presented the forum’s position on the issue. She said the 46th PIF Summit in Port Moresby in 2015 resolved to send a fact-finding mission to West Papua, however the Indonesian Government sees the term ‘fact-finding’ as offensive and therefore that resolution impending implementation.

Dame Taylor said she has meet with the PIF’s Chair, Prime Minister O’Neill of Papua New Guinea and also the Indonesian President on the way forward on the resolution and the PIF’s Chair will meet with the President.

The Secretary-General of the ULMWP, Mr Octovanius Mote said the ULMWP represents the freedom movement of West Papua, which continues to pursue the rights of West Papuans to their land, self-determination and all other human rights enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

Prime Minister Sapoaga of Tuvalu said his country fully appreciates and sympathises with the aspirations and wishes of the people of West Papua to be on their own and fully realises their rights to exist as a country and determine their own continuation as a people.

IMG_0154
The Pacific Coalition of West Papua members and friends discussing the way forward for the struggles for self-determination by the people of West Papua.

Minister Paul of the Republic of Marshall Islands said his country sees the issue of West Papua from a humanitarian perspective and humanitarian issues are at the forefront of the Marshall Islands Government.

The FLNKS representative, Mr Rodrigue Tiavouane said the FLNKS fully supports the PCWP initiative and the strategy by which it will be implemented.

He said the FLNKS went through the same process with its self-determination bid- starting with the Melanesian Spearhead Group then on to the Pacific Islands Forum and finally the UN Committee 24 (Special Committee on Decolonisation).

Prime Minister Pohiva of Tonga said it is a moral obligation to address the human rights abuses in West Papua and deteriorating conditions and call for self-determination and independence.

He said at the 70th United Nations General Assembly last year he spoke of how the objectives of good governance and accountability are all impossible without full support for human rights of people in areas of conflict throughout the world including the Pacific Islands.

IMG_0159
The Solomon Islands Government Special Envoy on West Papua, Mr Rex Horoi, left end, at the Pacific Coalition on West Papua meeting.

Ambassador Moses of Tuvalu said it is important that the issue of West Papua be taken to UN C24 and to be successful it is important for the Pacific to have strong leadership in pursuing it in a strategic manner.

She said what works some people does not always work for others.

PIANGO Tonga Member, Mr Drew Havea said he was encouraged by the leadership on the issue of West Papua displayed by Prime Minister Sogavare.

He said PIANGO acknowledges the pain of the people of West Papua as the pain of the Pacific and would like to urge Pacific leaders to come to an agreement to stop the violence in West Papua and find a peaceful and dignified pathway to self-determination.

The meeting concluded with the expression of commitment by all PCWP members to their mission objective.

Dialog Jakarta-Papua Kalah Cepat oleh Ujung Tombak Melanesia

Jayapura, Jubi – Dialog Jakarta-Papua, yang menjadi agenda Jaringan Damai Papua (JDP) sejak buku Papua Road Map (2009) diluncurkan, hadir dalam bentuk lain lewat siaran televisi langsung Papua Lawyers Club (PLC), Rabu malam (10/8/2016) di salah satu stasiun televisi di Jayapura.

“Topik ini terasa provokatif,” ujar Adriana Elizabeth, yang hadir mewakili peneliti LIPI dan sempat terlibat di dalam proses penyusunan buku Road Map Papua. Topik dialog pada malam itu mengambil tema ‘Mengakhiri Pertarungan Pemerintah Indonesia VS ULMWP’.

“Pertarungan itu mensyaratkan perbedaan melihat akar masalah, dan itu memang masih relevan. Karena upaya penyelesaiannya dari pihak pemerintah, belum maksimal,” ujar Adriana di sesi ketiga dialog yang dimoderatori oleh Anton Raharusun, SH tersebut.

Penyelesaian masalah di dalam negeri

Adriana percaya bahwa pemerintah, melalui Luhut Pandjaitan yang sempat ditemuinya, sedang berupaya menyelesaikan Papua lebih demokratis. “Saya rasa pemerintah cukup responsif mendengar masukan-masukan dari JDP dan LIPI, agar ada pendekatan holistik.” Tetapi dia tampak menyayangkan, bahwa apa yang didengarkan oleh pemerintah berbeda di tataran praktik lapangan.

Hal itu, lanjutnya, menyebabkan akar masalah Papua tidak tertangani. “Makanya kami sejak awal mengajak dialog, agar masalah ini tidak keluar,” ujar dia.

Masalah yang dimaksud Adriana, sebetulnya sudah jelas dalam perumusan Peta Jalan Papua sejak tujuh tahun lalu, semasa almarhum Muridan Widjojo, intelektual LIPI yang sangat membekas di hati orang Papua, masih hidup. Peta Jalan Papua itu dirumuskan setelah melalui banyak forum konsultasi dengan berbagai pemangku kepentingan di Papua Barat, termasuk kelompok-kelompok pro kemerdekaan.

Tetapi tampaknya, hal tersebut luput singgah di pikiran Asisten Deputi Bidang Otonomi Khusus Menkopolhukam, Brigjen Herwin Suparjo, satu-satunya narasumber yang hadir dengan kemeja putih bersih pada kesempatan itu.

Dia menilai, isu-isu HAM terkait Papua tidak perlu dipolitisir. Menurut dia, dengan mengundang beberapa Duta Besar negara Pasifik berkunjung ke Papua, pemerintah hendak menunjukkan Papua secara langsung. “Kita perlihatkan fakta saja ke Duta-duta besar Melanesia itu, biarkan MSG yang menilai,” ujarnya.

Ketika disinggung terkait kasus-kasus pelanggaran HAM yang sampai sekarang belum tampak ada titik terang penyelesaian, Herwin mengatakan bahwa pihaknya sedang meneliti kasus-kasus mana yang kriminal dan mana yang politis.

Terhadap MSG, lanjut Herwin, “pemerintah tidak sedang meyakinkan, tetapi membiarkan para wakil MSG melihat sendiri isu-isu tersebut.”

Pdt. Sofyan Yoman menyesalkan pemerintah Indonesia yang masih saja tidak mengakui berbagai persoalan pelanggaran HAM di Papua yang terus terjadi. “Ini bukan isu lagi, Pak. Tidak bisa dibilang isu,” ujarnya lantang.

“Coba kita lihat dulu wajah Indonesia di Papua ini. Orang Papua punya toko kah tidak? Hotel? Restoran? Inilah sebagian wajah pembangunan di Papua. Indonesia sudah gagal secara ekonomi,” kata Sofyan, yang belum lama ini juga melawat Australia untuk bertemu wakil-wakil gereja untuk mendiskusi laporan situasi HAM dan keadaan lingkungan di Papua.

“Proses integrasi Papua ke Indonesia itu tidak adil, militer yang mengintegrasikannya. Kita kembali saja ke Peta Jalan yang dibuat LIPI, kenapa sampai sekarang pemerintah tidak pakai landasan itu?” lanjut Sofyan.

Pendeta Sofyan menganggap pembentukan ULMWP saat ini adalah tindakan cerdas rakyat Papua yang berjuang untuk penentuan nasib sendiri. “Jangan pikir negara-negara Pasifik itu kecil. Mereka negara berdaulat. Mereka anggota PBB dan punya hak suara di sana,” ujarnya.

Di depan tokoh-tokoh gereja, lanjut Sofyan, pemerintah melalui Menkopolhukam pernah berjanji untuk menyelesaikan kasus pelanggaran HAM Paniai secepatnya, tetapi hingga sekarang tidak terjadi. Bagi Sofyan, Indonesia hanya tidak mau mengakui persoalan pelanggaran HAM di Papua sebagai realitas.

Adriana Elizabeth mengakui bahwa pemerintah sudah terlambat, tetapi ia masih meyakini dialog penyelesaian HAM adalah arena yang paling mungkin untuk mempertemukan berbagai pihak. Dia memahami, proses integrasi utuh Papua ke Indonesia tidak terjadi di semua aspek sosial, politik ekonomi dan kebudayaan.

Dan sayangnya, menurut dia, “Strategi pemerintah masih saja bersifat ad-hoc (sementara) tidak ada strategi jangka panjang, sementara tuntutan terhadap self determination sudah pasti tidak akan mungkin dipenuhi Indonesia.”

Persaudaraan Melanesia di Pasifik

Herwin Suparjo mengatakan bahwa kehadiran Indonesia mewakili sekitar 11 juta ‘warga Melanesia’ di 5 propinsi Indonesia (Papua, Papua Barat, NTT, Maluku dan Maluku Utara) atau yang dikonsepkan sebagai Melindo (Melanesia Sperhead Group) oleh pemerintah Indonesia.

Namun, berbeda menurut Victor Yeimo, ketua Komite Nasional Papua Barat (KNPB), yang juga hadir mewakili tim kerja dalam negeri ULMWP di pertemuan KTT MSG Juli lalu di Honiara. Menurut dia, Indonesia baru menoleh ke Pasifik sejak 2010, sementara rakyat Papua Barat telah menjalin hubungan persaudaraannya selama lima puluh tahun.

Menurut Victor, proses pencarian identitas Papua selema puluhan tahun, mendapatkan pertolongan pertamanya dari saudara-saudari Melanesia. “Melanesia tidak lengkap tanpa Papua Barat,” katanya.

Sementara pembentukan Melindo, lanjut Victor, adalah proyek politik belaka. “Melindo bukan Melanesia, dan hal tersebut dikatakan jelas oleh pemimpin MSG, bahwa selain Papua dan Papua Barat, ketiga propinsi lain adalah Polynesia.”

Victor menganggap, pemerintah Indonesia tidak mengerti bahwa MSG itu dibentuk untuk membebaskan wilayah-wilayah Melanesia dari kolonialisme. “Jadi agenda dekolonisasi adalah misi dasar MSG,” ujar Yeimo. Para pemimpin MSG, lanjut Victor, sangat memperhatikan isu-isu pelanggaran HAM di Papua dan kehendaknya menentukan nasib sendiri.

“Ini bukan lagi isu main-main, tetapi sudah menjadi isu dan agenda di negara-negara Melanesia, hingga ke akar rumput,” kata Viktor sambil tetap mengapresiasi hubungan diplomatik Indonesia dengan Melanesia secara ekonomi sambil mengritik upaya pendekatan politik pemerintah Indonesia di Pasifik. .

“Pemerintah Indonesia tidak pernah mengajukan aplikasi resmi ke MSG untuk menjadi anggota, mereka datang hanya dengan agenda ekonomi,” ujarnya.

Hal itu, menurut dia, membuat pemerintah-pemerintah Melanesia tersinggung, karena pembentukan MSG bukan bertitik tolak pada kepentingan ekonomi, melainkan persaudaraan Melanesia.

Adriana membenarkan bahwa dukungan terhadap ULMWP di Pasifik sangat kuat hingga ke akar rumput, sementara Melindo tidak kuat. “Indonesia hanya berhubungan G to G (pemerintah ke pemerintah), tidak mengakar,” ujarnya.

Oleh karena itu, lanjut Adriana, diperlukan konsolidasi politik untuk memungkinkan negosiasi. “ULMWP sudah progres luar biasa, pemerintah jangan menyangkalnya, tetapi dijadikan refleksi kenapa itu bisa terjadi.”

Juli lalu, Manasye Sogavare, Perdana Menteri Kepulauan Solomon yang juga Ketua MSG, dalam sebuah wawancaranya dengan wartawan Jubi di Honiara, Solomon, mengatakan bahwa masalah Papua saat ini sudah menjadi masalah bukan hanya Melanesia, tapi juga Pasifik, terutama negara-negara di Mikronesia dan Polinesia.

Sulitnya menemukan Common Ground

Tidak mudah menemukan landasan pijak bersama untuk mengatasi persoalan Papua yang suda menyejarah ini.

Septer Manufandu, Deputy Jaringan Damai Papua, menjelaskan bahwa persoalan menjadi berlarut-larut karena perjuangan rakyat Papua yang mencari identitas politiknya, yang saat ini sudah diwakili oleh ULMWP, tidak diakomodir oleh negara.

“Indonesia belum melihat nasionalisme Papua sebagai bagian dari konstruksi nasional bangsa Indonesia,” ujarnya. Karena tidak mendapatkan tempat di negeri ini maka proses pencarian tersebut terawat baik sampai sekarang.

Septer menyarankan agar pemerintah mau duduk berdialog dengan kelompok-kelompok yang berseberangan, “jangan dialog dengan kelompok-kelompok buatan,” ujarnya. Dalam dialog itu nanti, lanjut Septer baru bisa ditentukan apakah rumah Indonesia masih cocok untuk Papua.

Berbeda dengan Septer, Victor Yeimo mengatakan ULMWP belum punya kesiapan untuk berdialog dengan pemerintah Indonesia, karena tugasnya untuk menjalankan perjuangan di level regional dan internasional. “Indonesia dan Papua Barat sudah satu level sekarang di MSG. Hari ini, Melanesia adalah honai kami,” tegas Victor.

Internasionalisasi isu Papua memang telah gagal dibendung pemerintah Indonesia. Seperti yang telah dikatakan Perdana Menteri Sogavare Juli lalu, dirinya telah berkirim surat kepada Presiden Joko Widodo untuk membahas masalah Papua, namun permintaan dalam surat tersebut ditolak. Surat tersebut dikirim olehnya dalam kapasitasnya sebagai Ketua Melanesia Spearhead Groups.

“Saya mengirimkan surat untuk dua hal. Pertama untuk membahas masalah Papua dalam kapasitas saya sebagai ketua MSG, sebab Indonesia adalah anggota assosiasi dan Papua adalah pengamat dalam MSG. Kedua, meminta agar Indonesia sebagai anggota assosiasi mulai membuka diri untuk membahas masalah Papua di forum MSG. Namun kedua permintaan tersebut tidak mendapatkan respon positif dari Indonesia,” ujar Sogavare.

Acara dialog berakhir tanpa kesimpulan. Tetapi siaran Dialog PLC ini, seperti kata Pdt. Sofyan Yoman, telah membuka ruang pendidikan politik bagi rakyat Papua yang menilai.

Mayoritas anak-anak muda beratribut kaos merah dan jacket hijau army, tampak antusias hadir mendengarkan langsung dialog tersebut. Mereka bertepuk tangan spontan beberapa kali, sebagai tanda setuju menanggapi beberapa pernyataan penting yang meluncur dari beberapa pembicara yang mereka dukung.

Tidak ada represi dalam ruangan itu. Semua bebas bicara apa adanya. Sebuah ruang yang hingga saat ini, belum diberikan oleh pemerintah Indonesia sendiri.(*)

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

By PM Press – July 15, 2016

Flags of Melanesian States
Flags of Melanesian States

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 13th 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.

 

ULMWP Menerima Keputusan MSG

Penulis: Eben E. Siadari 20:59 WIB | Senin, 18 Juli 2016

HONIARA, SATUHARAPAN.COM – Kelompok yang menamakan diri sebagai Gerakan Persatuan Pembebasan Papua Barat atau United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) mengatakan pihaknya menerima keputusan organisasi sub-regional, Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), yang menunda pemberian status anggota penuh kepada mereka.

Juru Bicara ULMWP, Benny Wenda, mengatakan, kendati ada pihak yang menganggap ini merupakan taktik mengulur-ulur waktu, pihaknya mengakui para pemimpin dan pejabat MSG lebih menyoroti isu-isu teknis.

Pada KTT MSG Kamis lalu para pemimpin MSG telah sepakat untuk menunda menyetujui aplikasi ULMWP untuk mendapatkan keanggotaan penuh, sampai kriteria dan pedoman keanggotaan MSG dikembangkan lebih lanjut.

“Kami ingin berterima kasih kepada para pemimpin Melanesia dan kepada ketua serta Perdana Menteri Kepulauan Solomon yang telah membahas dan memfasilitasi aplikasi bagi keanggotaan penuh. Walaupun kecewa, kami tetap optimistis aplikasi kami akan dibahas lagi pada bulan September di Port Vila, Vanuatu,” kata dia, sebagaimana diberitakan oleh solomonstarsnews.com.

Ia mengatakan masalah yang disorot oleh para pemimpin MSG bersifat teknis, dan ULMWP berharap aplikasi itu dibahas pada bulan September.

“Kami menyerukan kepada rakyat kami di Papua, keluarga Melanesia dan Pasifik kami, dan pendukung global untuk melihat keputusan ini bukan kekalahan tetapi sebagai kemajuan untuk peningkatan proses di dalam MSG,”

kata dia.

Wenda mengucapkan terima kasih kepada rakyat Papua dan Pasifik atas dukungan yang besar, dan menekankan perlunya dukungan lainnya menuju KTT khusus pemimpin MSG September mendatang.

“Kami, ULMWP, tidak akan melangkah sampai sejauh ini jika bukan untuk rakyat akar rumput dan dukungan pemimpin Pasifik dan kami menyerukan dukungan lebih karena kami bekerja menuju pembentukan suara politik bagi rakyat kami dari Papua,”

kata dia.

Sementara itu Ketua MSG, Manasseh Sogavare, mengatakan proses untuk pemberian status anggota penuh kepada ULMWP belum usai.

Menurut dia, tertundanya pemberian status keanggotaan itu terkait dengan isu legal.

Oleh karena itu, Sub Komite Hukum dan Institusi MSG bekerja keras untuk meninjau dan mengubah persyaratan keanggotaan MSG.

Menurut dia, KTT khusus MSG di Vanuatu pada bulan Desember akan kembali membahas permohonan ULMWP.

“Ini belum selesai,” kata dia, sebagaimana disiarkan oleh Solomon Islands Broadcastiong Corporation.

Ia berharap Sub Komite MSG sudah menyelesaikan kriteria itu pada bulan September mendatang.

Beberapa hal yang akan ditinjau dan dirumuskan lagi oleh Sub Komite itu adalah mengenai prinsip-prinsip dasar, aspirasi politik dan prinsip-prinsip hukum internasional.

Namun, Indonesia yang selama ini menolak keberadaan ULMWP sebagai perwakilan rakyat Papua, dengan tegas mengatakan tidak ada tempat bagi ULMWP di MSG.

“Tidak ada tempat bagi ULMWP di masa mendatang di MSG,” kata ketua delegasi RI ke KTT Honiara, Desra Percaya.

Namun dia mengakui bahwa KTT bersepakat untuk membahas lebih lanjut pedoman keanggotaan yang akan diselesaikan pada September 2016 di Port Vila, Vanuatu.

“Tentunya hal tersebut dilakukan dengan menghormati prinsip-prinsip hukum internasional yang mengatur hubungan antar negara, utamanya penghormatan terhadap kedaulatan, non-intervensi terhadap urusan dalam negeri negara lain sebagaimana tertuang dalam Persetujuan Pembentukan MSG,”

kata Desra Percaya.

Editor : Eben E. Siadari

Disagreements on West Papua membership to MSG

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

MSG and ULMWP Leaders
MSG and ULMWP Leaders

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

Sogavare : Saat Ini Isu Papua Adalah Isu Pasifik

Honiara, Jubi – Manasye Sogavare, Perdana Menteri Kepulauan Solomon yang juga Ketua Melanesia Spearhead Groups saat ini menjadi Ketua Pacific Islands Development Forum (PIDF). Di hari pertama ia menjabat sebagai Ketua PIDF, Sogavare mengundang para pemimpin negara-negara Pasifik yang hadir dalam pertemuan PIDF di Kepulauan Solomon untuk membahas masa depan Bangsa dan Rakyat Papua.

“Masalah Papua saat ini sudah menjadi masalah bukan hanya Melanesia, tapi juga Pasifik, terutama negara-negara di Mikronesia dan Polinesia. Pelanggaran Hak Asasi Manusia di Papua yang terus terjadi hingga saat ini menjadi kepedulian kami di Pasifik,”

kata Sogavare kepada Jubi, Jumat (17/7/2015) dalam satu wawancara khusus usai melakukan pertemuan dengan para pemimpin Mikronesia dan Polinesia serta kelompok masyarakat Sipil Pasifik di King Solomon Hotel, Honiara. Pertemuan ini dihadiri juga oleh pemimpin United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).

Sogavare mengakui, ia telah berkirim surat kepada Presiden Indonesia, Joko Widodo untuk membahas masalah Papua namun permintaan dalam surat tersebut ditolak. Surat tersebut dikirim olehnya dalam kapasitasnya sebagai Ketua Melanesia Spearhead Groups.
“Saya mengirimkan surat untuk dua hal. Pertama adalah untuk membahas masalah Papua dalam kapasitas saya sebagai ketua MSG, sebab Indonesia adalah anggota assosiasi dan Papua adalah pengamat dalam MSG. Kedua adalah meminta agar Indonesia sebagai anggota assosiasi mulai membuka diri untuk membahas masalah Papua di forum MSG. Namun kedua permintaan tersebut tidak mendapatkan respon positif dari Indonesia,” ujar Sogavare.

Sikap pemerintah Indonesia ini menurutnya, menunjukkan bahwa Indonesia tidak memiliki niat positif untuk menyelesaikan masalah hak asasi manusia di Papua. Meskipun pemerintah Indonesia, melalui Menteri Kordinator Politik, Hukum dan Keamanan telah mengundang beberapa Duta Besar negara-negara Pasifik, termasuk Kepulauan Solomon datang ke Papua dan menyaksikan upaya penyelesaian masalah Hak Asasi Manusia yang sedang dilakukan oleh pemerintah, MSG menurut Sogavare adalah forum yang tepat untuk membahas masalah tersebut. Karena baik Indonesia maupun rakyat Papua yang diwakili oleh ULMWP ada dalam forum tersebut.

“Saya mengapresiasi upaya yang dilakukan pemerintah Indonesia. Namun keputusan kami menerima Indonesia dan ULMWP dalam MSG adalah agar keduanya bisa mulai membahas masalah ini. Itu adalah mandat yang saya pegang sebagai ketua MSG,”

ujar Sogavare.

Sogavare juga mengaku terus menerus menerima laporan tentang pelanggaran-pelanggaran HAM yang dilakukan oleh pemerintah Indonesia kepada rakyat Papua.

“Sebelum pertemuan para pemimpin MSG dilakukan, saya menerima laporan ada 300 lebih rakyat Papua yang ditangkap karena melakukan demonstrasi memberikan dukungan kepada ULMWP. Hari ini saya juga mendapatkan laporan bahwa beberapa mahasiswa Papua di satu kota di Jawa mengalami tindakan represif bukan saja oleh aparat keamanan tapi juga oleh warga masyarakat di kota itu. Bagaimana hal ini bisa terjadi di negara demokrasi seperti Indonesia?”

ungkap Sogavare.

Fakta-fakta ini menurut Ketua PIDF ini, membuat beberapa pemimpin Pasifik menaruh perhatian khusus. Para pemimpin Pasifik, lanjutnya telah sepakat untuk membawa isu Papua ini dalam pertemuan regional Pasifik.

“Para pemimpin Pasifik bertemua hari ini atas undangan saya. Kami membahas masalah bangsa dan rakyat Papua, terutama pelanggaran Hak Asasi Manusia yang terus menerus terjadi. Ini harus dihentikan dan menjadi tanggungjawab siapapun yang menjadi warga dunia. Bangsa dan rakyat Pasifik menyadari hal ini. Di beberapa negara Pasifik isu Papua sudah menjadi perhatian generasi muda. Maka pemerintah dan masyarakat sipil harus mulai menjalankan tanggungjawabnya,”

jelas Sogavare. (*)

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 Dubs 4th PIDF Leaders Summit a Success

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

The Honiara-hosted 4th 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 4th 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.”

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.”

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

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