Vanuatu urged to be consistent with foreign policy

Sato Kilman - pictured during a visit to Russia in March 2015 — Sato Kilman. Photo: Vladimir Pesnya / RIA Novosti

A Vanuatu opposition MP says the government should be careful to act consistently on foreign policy.

The comment from Sato Kilman, a former prime minister, comes after another call on West Papua by Vanuatu at the United Nations.

Speaking at the UN General Assembly, current prime minister Charlot Salwai called for an investigation into alleged killings and abuses of the indigenous people of Indonesia’s Papua region.

Mr Kilman said the UN was the right place in which to raise concern on Papua.

But he questions whether Vanuatu takes the same stand on similar issues in other parts of the world.

“If Vanuatu has got to be able to show that she has credibility then she must be able to deal with all the issues in a consistent manner. Being members of the United Nations, while we are dealing with these issue, we are making comments, we are raising awareness on these isues, I think it’s only fair that we should be dealing with the others equally well,” he said

Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai Photo: Supplied

Mr Salwai’s statement in New York last week was the second consecutive year that he raised West Papua at the General Assembly.

He accused world leaders at the UN of turning a deaf ear to more than half a century of atrocities committed by Indonesia on West Papuans.

“We also call on our counterparts throughout the world to support the legal right of West Papua to self-determination and to jointly with Indonesia put an end to all kinds of violence and find common ground to facilitate a process to make their own choice,” said Mr Salwai.

Indonesian representative at the UN General Assembly in New York, September 2017. Photo: UNGA

In response to Mr Salwai’s statement, an Indonesian government spokeswoman told the assembly Indonesia categorically denied all allegations levelled against it regarding Papua.

She accused Mr Salwai and other Melanesian leaders concerned about Papua of being misled and of supporting separatism in a sovereign nation.

“These countries were foolishly deceived by individuals with separatist agendas to exploit the issue of human rights,” said the spokeswoman.

“If human rights are at the heart of the issue, why were these concerns not raised in the appropriate forum, namely the 3rd Cycle of the Periodic Review of Indonesia at the United Nations Human Rights Council,” she said.

Sato Kilman admitted the West Papua issue was one that ran deep with ni-Vanuatu, but he cautioned against cherry-picking foreign policy issues from a Vanuatu government perspective.

“Yes, you can raise the issues, but when there are similar problems around the globe, and Vanuatu, it doesn’t matter how small we are, we are one voice at the UN. Our voice is good enough to be heard in the UN about the other issues as well.”

When he was prime minister of Vanuatu in four brief tenures during a period of political volatility in his country between 2010 and 2016, Mr Kilman adopted a controversial policy on Papua.

He departed from standard Vanuatu foreign policy by forging closer ties with Indonesia, in spite of his country’s long-running support for West papuan independence.

He also advocated this softer approach with Jakarta in his various stints as Foreign Minister, although it was unpopular with grassroots communities in Vanuatu.

Ultimately, the Malekula MP advocated keeping communication lines with Jakarta open on the Papua issue.

“I’d be very interested to know those of us who have been advocating for West Papua, or New Caledonia for that matter,” said Mr Kilman.

“How many of us have actually spoken with the Indonesian government or the French government about these issues?”

September 27, 2017 0

West Papua Problem Will Only be Solved in Melanesian Way, by Melanesian Leaders

West Papua Liberation Army (WPRA) Secretary-General, towards the end term of his office before the secretariat-general office is being ended by its Commander in Chief, Gen. WPRA Mathias Wenda, made a public statement last night that “West Papua Problem Will Only be Solved in Melanesian Way, by Melanesian leaders“, in reply to written questions sent by PMNews (Free West Papua News at papuapost.com via Email and Mobile Text Message.

PMNews: Hello, this is from PMNews again, we would like to ask some questions in relation to current development of West Papua independence campaign. It was reported recently that the Solomon Islands Prime Minister as the Chair of Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has toured and met other Melanesian leaders, except the PNG Prime Minister. What do you make out of this development?

WPRA: We thank to God, Almighty, creator of our Melanesian Islands, particularly the home of Melanesians, the Isle of New Guinea, and to our Melnaesian leaders, who are already standing up for their own people and our common identity as Melanesians.

About the current progress of MSG Chair meeting other MSG leaders, we are really grateful that this is happening. About MSG Chair not yet met PNG Premier, please PMNews,do not worry about this. This is exactly we call “The Melaensian Way”. The most obvious feature of the “Melanesian Way” is: UNPREDICTABLE. Please not it, Melanesians are unpredictable, what we do always unpredictable. When Barack Obama, Donal Trump, T. May, Joko Widodo say something, then most of us will be able to predict what they mean and what they imply at the same time. But when Melanesian peoples say something, they can mean something totally different, it is just unpredictable.

PMNews: United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) was promised to be accepted as Full Member of the MSG by early 2017, but this did not happen. Do you think this is also related to “The Melanesian Way”?

WPRA: You are absolutely right. You got it now. That is exactly why I said, we are Melanesians, and we are unpredictable.What we do is the same as the modern world do things. Melanesians are Melanesians. West Papua Issue is now Melanesian Issue, and we are now already dealing with it. Do not do things in Melanesia according to the Western mindset. It will have a counter-productive outcome.

PMNews: Does it mean Melanesian leaders can make promises but then it is OK if they do not deliver?

WPRA: You were already good in previous question, but now you got it wrong in this question. PLEASE: Do not focus on semi-membership and full-membership. That is western mind. Please focus on “membership”. Full stop. ULMWP is ALREADY a member of the MSG, full stop.

Be thankful, work on it, cultivate and nurture communication and collaboration with Melanesian leaders, our own leaders. Do not treat PNG Premier and Solomon Premier as different peoples. They are just one: Melanesian leaders.

West Papua just born into Melanesian family, a new born baby. Do not ask for food yet, milk first. Work first, cultivate first, nurture first, then things will evolve automatically and naturally. We are not talking about other peoples. We are talking about our own Melanesia and Melanesians. Think in Melanesian Way, Act in Melanesian Way.

PMNews: Elaborate more on the “Melaensian Way” that you are talking about.

WPRA: Just one short story. If you want a girl from another clan, what do you normally do? You must behave, you must show yourself capable man, know how to build house, make garden, and be a man, a husband. If your thinking and behavior is like a small kids, no woman will be willing to marry you, no clan will approve you to get their daughter.

You do not need to go around, you do not need to go to their men’s houses and put notice and distribute leaflets asking for support for your marriage with the girl. You do not need to ask other boys to join you in your demonstration. That will make the whole thing counter-productive, right?

What you should do is “behave”, do things that Melanesian peoples do in order to get attention, and in order to get support!

When we Melanesians live long time in the west, then we forget our own Melanesian Way. This is why we say we are Melanesians, but we do in western way. “Our Voice is like that of Jacob’s, but our skin feels like that of Esau’s”. What a game we are into now.

Get out from there. Be Melanesians, do things in Melanesian Way.

Everything is already on the right track. Nothing to worry about. Just TRUST….

Trust in God and His miracles;
Trust in Melanesia and Melanesian leaders’ wisdom
Trust in Yourselves as Melanesians in West Papua.

And then…

As far as possible, avoid to trust opinion from Non-Melanesian(s), because they have their own interests and we do not want them to change our course into their course;
As far as possible, DELETE doubt in yourself, and in your own Melanesian peoples, because that is the deadliest disease that we can have in order to destroy us Melanesians and our future; and
Only then, you can have the capability to absorb and comprehend ideas and suggestions from outside Melanesia, and then you can properly make use of things coming from outside.

PMNews: Your advice is not really easy, because we are in a globalised world, out West Papuan leaders now live in the West and we do not know what things they are getting from there and what things they want to use to Free West Papua.

WPRA: The right Melanesian leaders from West Papua will choose to live in one of Melanesian states, just like what Any Ayamiseba and The Late Dr. OPM John Otto Ondawame did. If they choose to live in the western countries, we will surely know that they dot not FULLY represent West Papuans, but they PARTLY represent non-Melanesians as well.

PMNwes: Any advice for Melanesian youths in West Papua and all over Indonesia?

WPRA: Not now, nothing to say for them right now.

Since 2004, WPRA has already been active in building bases for Free West Papua Campaign across Melanesian states. Since 2006, or ten years ago, we already have moved the Field of West Papua Political Match from Western New Guinea to Eastern New Guinea. Therefore, the match now is happening in PNG, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Kanaky and Vanuatu, not in West Papua or Indonesia anymore.

There is no comment for spectators. When there is a match, people normally give comments on the match, not on the spectators. Thank you.

January 27, 2017 0

MSG foreign ministers discuss membership

Melanesian Spearhead Group foreign ministers are this evening meeting in Vanuatu’s capital to discuss guidelines which relate to a West Papuan bid for membership in the group.

MSG senior officials met yesterday in Port Vila and, as with today’s foreign ministers meeting, the findings of a constitutional committee review of MSG rules on membership are the main agenda item.

This comes as the MSG considers a full membership application by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

Vanuatu prime minister Charlot Salwai accepts traditional head dress from the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. Photo: Len Garae

The foreign minister of Solomon Islands, Milner Tozaka, said the MSG leaders in July requested legal clarification on guidelines for membership.

“So that request has been attended to appropriately by the legal people and they have made a recommendation to be used for the foreign ministers to look at and then we will recommend it to the leaders for endorsement,” he explained.

Milner Tozaka confirms there won’t be a decision this week on the full membership application by the Liberation Movement, which already has observer status.

The leaders of the MSG member states are not expected to have their summit until early in the new year.

The Movement’s leaders are present at this week’s MSG meetings in Port Vila, along with leaders of all the main pro-independence groups.

Vanuatu’s prime minister Charlot Salwai has reiterated his country’s support for the Liberation Movement to be give full membership, as well as for West Papua to be independent.

Mr Salwai said his country’s foreign policy remained firm that Vanuatu is not completely free of colonial bondage until all of Melanesia is free.

It’s understood that Solomon Islands and New Caledonia’s FLNKS Kanaks movement are also in support on the matter of the MSG membership.

However the other two full members of the MSG, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, have tended to side with Indonesia on this issue.

Indonesia, which has associate member status at the MSG, is firmly opposed to West Papuans being granted full membership in the group.

Jakarta says Papuans are already covered by the Indonesian republic in terms of representation in the MSG.

December 21, 2016 0

Parlemen Vanuatu ajukan mosi tidak percaya pada Salwai

Perdana Menteri Charlot Salwai. --RNZI — Perdana Menteri Charlot Salwai. –RNZI

Port Vila, Jubi – Juru bicara parlemen Vanuatu menyatakan bahwa parlemen telah menyatakan mosi tidak percaya terhadap perdana menteri Charlot Salwai. Mosi itu diajukan oleh blok oposisi dan akan dibahas di parlemen, Rabu pekan mendatang.

Koran Daily Post melaporkan bahwa mosi tidak percaya itu telah ditandatangai oleh 31 anggota parlemen. Meski begitu, nama-nama anggota parlemen yang disebutkan telah menandatangani mosi itu hingga kini belum jelas.

Sejak kabar itu beredar, pemerintah telah menghabiskan waktu seharian untuk menyusun maneuver politik untuk menghadapi mosi tidak percaya jika usul itu diterima oleh sebagian besar anggota parlemen.

Pemerintahan di bawah Salwai teus dibayang-bayangi mosi tidak percaya dari parlemen terlebih setelah hampir dari setengah pejabat birokrasi pemerintahan dituntut penjara karena korupsi. Selain pejabat birokrasi, kasus korupsi juga menjerat banyak anggota parlemen dan mantan perdana menteri negeri itu.

Jika mosi tidak percaya itu disetujui parlemen, pemerintah bisa kehilangan legitimasi untuk melanjutkan pemerintahannya. Sejauh ini, belum ada tanggapan dari pihak pemerintah atas usul yang akan segera dibahas parlemen itu. (*)

November 24, 2016 0

Jakarta urges Canberra to deliver regional warning on Papua

RadioNZ – Indonesia’s Defence Minister has urged Australia to rebuke Pacific Island states who raise issues relating to West Papua in global fora.

Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu looks on during the third Trilateral Defence Minister’s Meeting in Nusa Dua on Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on August 2, 2016. Photo: SONNY TUMBELAKA / AFP

Ryamizard Ryacudu met with Australian government representatives including Foreign Minister Julie Bishop in a meeting in Bali where the two countries reaffirmed security ties.

He pressed Australia to pass a message to Solomon Islands that it should refrain from interferring in the internal affairs of Indonesia, including the issue of West Papua.

World Humanitarian Summit Pacific Consultation. Hon. Julie Bishop, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, in his role as chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, has been vocal about boosting West Papuan representation in the group.

He was also one of seven leaders of Pacific states who spoke out about rights abuses in Papua and on support for Papuan self-determination at last month’s UN General Assembly session.

The Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare has been appointed chair of the Pacific Islands Development Forum. Photo: UN Photo/Kim Haughton

Ryamizard told media that he had implored Canberra to speak to Honiara on the matter because Australia contributes a big aid package in the Solomons.

Detik News reports the Minister saying Australia has accepted the request.

Ryamizard said friendly countries do not disturb each other by interfering in domestic issues.

Indonesian military guard the border with Papua New Guinea Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

He warned that Indonesia will not stay silent when its sovereignty is compromised. He described Indonesia as a tiger that can attack if disturbed.

The Minister urged Australia to pass on the message to Solomon Islands and other Pacific states that they should not invite West Papua 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 MSG accepted the United Liberation Movement for West Papua into the group with observer status last year and is considering whether to elevate it to full membership.

An MSG leaders meeting on the matter is due before the end of the year in Vanuatu.

Indonesia has associate member status at the MSG.

November 1, 2016 0

Gen. Wenda: West Papua is Ready to Function as a Postmodern Nation-State

Following the signing of West Papua Revolution Constitution by the West Papua National Parliament in September 2016, Gen. TRWP Mathias Wenda urges United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) to follow it up according to the order of the constitution that says,

“ULMWP shall form a Transitional Government or Revolutionary Government or Provisional Government of West Papua within 90 days after the constitution takes into force”.

It is important for all Melanesian leaders and tribal elders to understand, that I myself as an elder, would like to invite all Melanesian elders to pray for us in West Papua so that ULMWP has the ability and bravery to declare a “West Papua Provisional Government” not long from now. This is important in order for us Melanesian leaders and for the ULMWP to have a stronger position within international law in our South Pacific Region.

By declaring our West Papua Revolutionary Constitution (WPRC) on 13 September 2016, on the day we celebrated the 9th anniversary of UN Declarations on Indigenous Populations that was passed by the UNGA on the 61-session dated 13 September 2007. The UN Declaration on Indigenous Populations, particularly on Article 3. clearly stipulates

Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

All UN Documents and primarily UN Charter clearly guarantees the rights of all human society in the world, individuals and groups to determine their/our future. And what we Melanesians are doing now in West Papua is just in accordance to these principles, in order to implement the basic values of the United Nations and to appreciate our human civilization that have rejected any forms of slavery and colonization with any reason.

West Papuans are fighting against Indonesian colonialism not because we hate the Malay – Indos.

What we are doing is to respect the values and principles of the UN and to end manipulation and lies that have been colonizing and suppressing, terrorizing and obliterating Melanesian peoples all the way from Fiji to Sorong.

West Papua was invaded militarily beginning from the December 19th, 1961’s Triple Command of Indonesian President. The Western World was not interested in taking risk of Communism expanding to South Pacific region after failure to defeat communist influence in South East Asia, particularly Vietnam and Indonesia.

We human beings in this planet have said “Good Bye” to Communism. The threat from Russia is no longer to do with communism anymore. The eastern block is now already part of our human history. And yet, the impacts of the Cold War Era is still disturbing and deadly to Melanesians in West Papua, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and Kanaky. Papua New Guinea and Fiji have been reluctant lately, to acknowledge us West Papuans as one race, wan solwara, wan graun and wantok, not based on their choice, but they are presented day and night, back and forth, by forces and threats from outside Melanesia, pressuring them to accept whatever happened in the past and its consequences, however insulting and deadly it is to our race as human beings.

Only until June 26, 2015 that we all Melanesians have declared our dignity and integrity as human race on this planet, on the South Pacific Region, that Melanesians are all united as one race and one family under our house called MSG. We indeed acknowledged the reality of God’s creation that we are created as Melanesians, not as Indonesians. What we are doing is God’s will, based on the laws and principles of God from creation. West Papuans are not Indonesians, we are Melanesians, and this is according to what God has created. Let us agree with God and work towards social-engineering projects being actively and massively, with a lot of resources being executed in West Papua since 1961.

Right now, since 13 September 2016, West Papuans now already have a Constitution that will guide us towards a free and independent West Papua. We invite all Melanesian leaders to understand and cooperate, in order to promote a United Melanesia that is based upon the Values and Norms, Customs and Traditions of Melanesian peoples that we inherited from our ancestors.

This very Provisional Constitution of West Papua clearly states that the citizens of West Papua Nation-State are (1) spiritual beings, (2) plants, (3) animals, (4) matter and human beings who live and share the Western half of the Isle of New Guinea. This constitution is based upon Melanesian values and philosophy, that acknowledges the existence and rights of all communities of beings, including human beings, regard all communities of beings as part of our life, see the forests as our homes, see the animals as our fellow beings, see the spirits of the living and of our ancestors nurtures our lives, honour and worship God in His Spirit, and respect and protect the rights of matters like rivers, gold, timber, soil as fellow beings that should be respected and treated accordingly.

This very Provisional Constitution of West Papua also states that the National or Official Language of West Papua nation-state is Tok-Pisin and the National Currency is Kina West Papua.

We are standing based on our Melanesian norms, values and philosophy, and following our Melanesian brothers and sisters today who already have their independent nation-states. We are going to have our National Government soon, because we already have our National Parliament and Our National Law in place.

As the Commander in Chief of West Papua Revolutionary Army (WPRA) and as the Elder of my own Lani Triba, I would like to invited the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Rt. Hon. Prime Minister of Fiji, Rt. Hon. Leader of FLNKS, and Leaders of ULMWP that

We fully trust and rely on you all, and look forward to what the future brings from your kind wisdom and leadership in liberating our occupied land by Melayo – Indonesians;
We look forward to sit and stand-up, talk and work together hand-in-hand to fully liberate West Papua from colonialism.
West Papua is the westernmost part of Melanesia, and without West Papua, our own entity as a human race is not complete and we are socially and culturally paralyzed. West Papua independence is per-requisite towards a stable, peaceful, prosperous and powerful Melanesia. Those who against West Papua independence are the ones who want to colonize, manipulate and exploit our Melanesian race and our resources, of course for their own sake not for us Melanesians.

West Papua is our hope for our future. We are looking forward to establish a post-modern nation-state that is based fully on our Melanesian wisdom, based on our Melanesian norms and values, and our system of governance.

We are ready to step into running West Papua Government that will coordinate and organise our movement towards full independence and sovereignty.

Please receive our warmest greetings and salute, from the jungles o New Guinea.

Issued at: The Central Defense Headquarters of the West Papua Revolutionary Army

On date: 10 October 2016

———————————————————–

Commander in Chief of WPRA

Mathias Wenda, Gen. TRWP
NBP:A.001076

October 20, 2016 0

Stand on West Papua, NC unchanged: PM Salwai

Port Vila – DailyPost – Vanuatu Prime Minister has reiterated the government and the country’s stand for the independence of West Papua and New Caledonia, as unchanged.

Prime Minister Salwai, made the statement Tuesday afternoon when he officiated at the opening of a Kanaky-West Papua Exhibition at the National Cultural Centre in Port Vila.

He said despite Vanuatu being supportive of the New Caledonia Government, and that of French Polynesia for them to become members of the Pacific Islands Forum, this does not change the stand of Vanuatu and the people of Vanuatu which remains strong and unchanged for West Papua and New Caledonia and French Polynesia towards self-governing.

The Vanuatu Prime Minister went further to stressed that the exhibition is a self-evidence of the desire for the Melanesian people of Kanaky, West Papua to run their life and freedom

He said emphasized that Vanuatu continues to support their struggle for freedom of the two Melanesian neighbours at regional and international level. Prime Minister Salwai pointed out that the recent call by Vanuatu in support for their freedom was at the United Nations Meeting in New York.

He assured the people of West Papua who organized the exhibition that Vanuatu’s position in support of West Papua becoming member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) remain unchanged.

Prime Minister Salwai, said the MSG Meeting that was supposed to have taken place in Port Vila week before last, will now take place in December of this year, to address the application of West Papua to become member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, MSG.

ligo@dailypost.vu

October 14, 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

Pacific leaders resolve for Papua to be taken up at UN

Vanuatu says the Pacific Islands Forum leaders have resolved for regional countries concerned about West Papua to take it up at the United Nations.

Leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum in the Federated States of Micronesia in 2016. Photo: PNG PM media

The Vanuatu prime minister Charlot Salwai says that Forum leaders at last week’s summit in the Federated States of Micronesia reached consensus on reports of alleged human rights violations committed by Indonesia in Papua.

According to the Vanuatu Daily Post, this includes the Forum bringing the allegations to the table with Indonesia, and taking up the case at the UN Human Rights Committee.

This comes after the Forum abandoned last year’s plan to have a fact-finding mission to Indonesia’s Papua region, after Jakarta opposed the idea.

Despite West Papua self-determination and human rights abuses being billed as a leading item for the Forum leaders agenda last week, the summit’s resulting communique was light on substance about Papua.

“Leaders recognised the political sensitivities of the issue of West Papua (Papua) and agreed the issue of alleged human rights violations in West Papua (Papua) should remain on their agenda,”

it read.

Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Charlot Salwai listens to speeches at the 16-nation Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) opening in the Micronesian capital Palikir on September 8, 2016.

The leaders reportedly agreed on the importance of an open and constructive dialogue with Indonesia on the issue.

However the regional response about Papua is increasingly directed at the UN, rather than the Forum which Mr Salwai concedes has very few member states supporting the call for West Papuan self-determination.

He said the five Forum countries who do support it, believe that if there are human rights violations there, it is because of West Papuans’ political aspirations.

Mr Salwai said the Forum resolved for these countries to take up the case at the UN Decolonisation Committee and he is going to raise the issue of alleged human rights abuses in West Papua at this month’s UN General Assembly in New York.

September 15, 2016 0

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

By PMC Editor – July 20, 2016

Compiled by Jane Joshua

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