Full West Papua membership expected by December

Radio NZ – There are plans afoot to ensure West Papua gets full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group by the end of the year.

That’s according to a long-time campaigner for West Papua and Vanuatu churchman Pastor Alan Nafuki.

He received a briefing from the MSG’s chair and Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare last week as a leaders summit was deferred for the second time.

There’s been disagreement among Melanesian leaders over a full seat at the table for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Pastor Nafuki told Sally Round a summit is now set for early December and full membership for West Papuans will be like Christmas cake for all Melanesian countries.

Transcript

West Papuans demonstrate support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's bid to be a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. — West Papuans demonstrate support for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua’s bid to be a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Photo: Tabloid Jubi

PASTOR ALAN NAFUKI: It has been decided next time around when the summit convenes its meeting during the month of December this year, there are other alternatives to make, to make sure that the West Papua issue, West Papua bid to become a full member of MSG will be granted by December. Regardless of if all the Melanesian countries do not get together, that would not stop the granting of the West Papuans full membership of the MSG.

SALLY ROUND: Mr Sogavare had some kind of plan for this?

AN: Leaders of government, they have their own plans but I would speak on behalf of civil society within the Melanesian countries like New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands and civil society in Papua New Guinea and also in Fiji, that we’ve been fighting for many, many years now. We are looking forward to the summit that is being organised, planned for December this year.

SR: At your meeting with Mr Sogavare last week were any of the avenues discussed about how, without certain countries attending…

AN: He only briefed us that the meeting was scheduled for December and things should be OK by December because even if majority were present, the meeting would continue to boost West Papua into the membership of MSG. To my understanding what the prime minister of Solomon Islands was saying, I think it was obvious and it was good. I think I am satisfied with what he has said and I am very pleased. I think some of the government people, they are trying to revisit the MSG constitution and see what options they can take best to accommodate the West Papuans. The Vanuatu government asked the chiefs of Vanuatu and churches in Vanuatu if we are all 100 percent supporting, so you could not deny anything from our side. It would only look at other countries. But we are looking forward and we made sure that our … the prime minister of Solomon Islands and Vanuatu really understood our voice (inaudible). 100 percent of our people are supporting the West Papuans to come in the membership of the MSG and also for the self determination and of course independence. We have been fighting for this for many, many years. This will be a relief for me. It will be another achievement that is going to be a part of Christmas cake for all Melanesian countries.

October 19, 2016 0

lans afoot for West Papuan membership by year end

Radion NZ – A Vanuatu churchman says there are plans underway to ensure West Papua will be granted full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group before Christmas.

A Vanuatu churchman says there are plans underway to ensure West Papua will be granted full membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group before Christmas.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat in Port Vila, Vanuatu

The Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat in Port Vila, Vanuatu Photo: RNZI / Jamie Tahana

Summit meetings of the regional body have been deferred twice this year amid apparent disagreement among leaders over the issue.

The Chairman of the Vanuatu Free West Papua Association, Pastor Alan Nafuki, said he received a briefing on the situation from the MSG’s chair and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare last week.

Pastor Nafuki said he’d been told the summit would now go ahead in early December whether or not all countries attend.

He said full membership for West Papua would be a great achievement and like Christmas cake for all Melanesian countries.

“I am satisfied with what he said and I am very pleased. I think some of the government people they are trying to revisit the MSG constitution and see what option they can take best to accommodate the West Papuans.”

Pastor Nafuki said he’d made sure the prime ministers of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands understood that the people of Vanuatu were 100 percent behind membership for West Papuans.

October 10, 2016 1

VFWPA perkuat solidaritas Melanesia untuk dekolonisasi West Papua

Pertemuan Wantok Melanesia yang diselenggarakan oleh Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) di Vanuatu beberapa waktu lalu - bennywenda facebook page — Pertemuan Wantok Melanesia yang diselenggarakan oleh Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) di Vanuatu beberapa waktu lalu – bennywenda facebook page

Jayapura, Jubi – Pertemuan Wantok Melanesia yang diselenggarakan oleh Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) di Vanuatu beberapa waktu lalu, menegaskan komitmen dukungan terhadap proses dekolonisasi atas anggota-anggota keluarga Melanesia di kawasan negara-negara anggota MSG, khususnya West Papua.

Didukung oleh Asosiasi LSM Kepulauan Pasifik (PIANGO), sekitar 43 perwakilan masyarakat sipil dari Vanuatu, West Papua, Fiji, Kanaky, Papua Nugini, dan Kepulauan Solomon bertemu di Vanuatu untuk memperkuat solidaritas identitas dan kebudayaan Melanesia, demikian dilansir pina.com.fj, Selasa (4/10/2016).

“Tujuan pertemuan ini untuk meninjau dan memperkuat identitas, kebudayaan, bahasa, warisan budaya dan suku serta mendengar perkembangan gerakan solidaritas akar rumput di negara-negara MSG guna mendukung proses Dekolonisasi keluarga besar Melanesia yang masih mengalami kolonisasi, khususnya West Papua,” demikian pernyataan Komunike Murray Centre Senin (3/10) lalu.

Pertemuan dibuka oleh Pastor Alan Nafuki, Ketua VFWPA yang juga menjabat ketua Dewan Gereja Vanuatu, yang menekankan pentingnya peran gereja dalam proses dekolonisasi Vanuatu, yang dari namanya berarti “pulau kebangkitan.”

Rence Sore, Sekretaris Perdana Menteri Solomon menegaskan posisi anggota-anggota MSG seperti Vanuatu, Kepulauan Solomon, dan pemerintah Kanaky tetap teguh mendukung perjuangan rakyat West Papua untuk kemerdekaan.

Hadir juga wakil United Liberation for West Papua (ULMWP), yang menegaskan persatuan rakyat West Papua di dalam dan di luar negeri tetap mendukung ULMWP sebagai pemimpin bagi perjuangan penentuan nasib sendiri.

ULMWP juga mendesak agar MSG menjamin keanggotaan penuh ULMWP untuk selanjutnya mendapat pengakuan internasional terhadap perjuangan pembebasan West Papua.

Pastor Nafuki saat menandatangani Komunike Murray Centre mengatakan pertemuan tiga hari tersebut berlangsung sukses.

“Hasil komunike ini akan diserahkan kepada setiap pemimpin MSG di Port Vila,” ujarnya sambil menyatakan kekecewaannya atas penundaan Pertemuan Tingkat Tinggi MSG untuk mendiskusikan isu West Papua dan status keanggotaanya.

Walau demikian dia mengungkapkan rasa terima kasihnya pada pemerintahan Vanuatu saat ini atas dukungannya pada keanggotaan penuh West Papua di MSG. Dia juga mengungkapkan penghagaan tingginya atas dukungan rakyat Vanuatu kepada rakyat Melanesia West Papua. (*)

October 6, 2016 0

Melanesian Solidarity Summit Today

The Vanuatu West Papua Association is hosting a “Wantok Summit” for Free West Papua Civil Society Organization support group in the Melanesian region of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kanaky, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and West Papua at the Vanuatu Christian Council (VCC) office, 8.30 am today.

The Summit is being held in parallel with the MSG Leader’s Summit in Port Vila which the Daily Post understands will take place on the 3rd and 4th of October 2016. The theme for the Melanesian Associations in support for West Papua full membership in the MSG is “Melanesian Solidarity”.

According to the Chairman of the Vanuatu West Papua Association, Pastor Allan Nafuki, the three-day summit will focus on the issues of Defining “Melanesia; its cultures, language heritage, ethnicity, Impact of colonization on Melanesian solidarity, how Melanesian countries are advocating for Melanesian Solidarity, Restoring the Melanesian Solidarity and what can Melanesians do together in this regard and winding up the Summit with a Melanesian Government heads Reconciliation customary ceremony on Saturday to be facilitated by the Vanuatu Malvafumauri National Council of Chiefs.

Some prominent Melanesian figures behind the support for West Papua full MSG membership include; Benny Wendy, Spokesman for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Damson Faisi, Chairman of the Solomon Islands in Solidarity for West Papua, Joko Peter Kassey, of the Free West Papua –PNG Chapter and West Papua Refugee Relief Association, Inco, as others from Fiji and Papua New Guinea were expected to be in Port Vila for the summit.

Without commenting further, the Chairman of the Vanuatu West Papua Association Pastor Allan Nafuki, said a press communiqué will be issued at the end of the summit on the resolutions.

ligo@dailypost.vu

September 29, 2016 0