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 2^nd 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 4^th 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.

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.

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 70^th 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.

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.

September 4, 2016 0

Nafuki believes ULMWP membership in MSG will be made in September

The Chairman of the Vanuatu Committee for Free West Papua, Pastor Allen Nafuki, has said he strongly believes that the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting to be held in Port Vila in September, will grant West Papua full membership into the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

“It was right here in Port Vila, that Vanuatu played an important role in hosting of the reconciliation ceremonies between all West Papua Leaders, and the formation, and the signing of the agreement of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) between all the West Papua Leaders,” Pastor Nafuki told the Daily Post.

He went on to state that: “As a Pastor in a Christian church and occupying the Chair of the Free West Papua Association in Vanuatu, I also strongly believe that it is God’s plan that the West Papua admission as a full member to the MSG will take place here in Vanuatu.

“In this regard I am calling on every Christian Leaders in all Christian denominations and all Christians across Vanuatu to rise in Pray in one accord for this dream for West Papua brothers and sisters to be fully realized in September 2016 here in Port Vila, Vanuatu,” he appealed.

“After the news was received from Honiara that West Papua full admission into the MSG did not happen, I gave a lot of thought about why the MSG Leaders had once again did not grant full admission to the Melanesian brothers and sisters in West Papua full MSG membership.

“What came across my mind is that we humans make plans but God’s will according to His plan and time is what we have to seek and accept.

“So, as of today as I am talking to the Daily Post, I wish to state that my Committee is reviewing plans and preparing an even stronger application which will be submitted in good time ahead of the MSG Leaders’ Summit here in Port Vila in September, 2016,” said Pastor Nafuki.

“Let me reiterate my call on all Christian Leaders and all Christians across Vanuatu to place West Papua Melanesian brothers and sisters for a full membership into the MSG, in the hands of the Almighty God to grant this request in the MSG Leaders’ Summit in September 2016,” Nafuki reiterated.

ligo@dailypost.vu

August 28, 2016 0

Vanuatu Deputy PM: MSG Members Have Their Own Agendas On West Papua

Natuman claims ‘MSG is being bought by others’

Compiled by Jane Joshua

PORT VILA, Vanuatu (Vanuatu Daily Post, July 20, 2016) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trades, 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 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 on July 14, 2016.

[PIR editor’s note: On July 20, 2016 Vanuatu Daily Post reported that ‘The Chairman of the Vanuatu Committee for Free West Papua, Pastor Allen Nafuki, has said he strongly believes that the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting to be held in Port Vila in September, will grant West Papua full membership into the Melanesian Spearhead Group.’]

“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 yesterday morning.

“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 defend 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 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 organization.

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

Asked what transpired at the Honiara Summit, DPM Natuman said according to the Prime minister’s briefing on his return, there were some misunderstanding 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 present 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.”

On the issue of New Caledonia, DPM 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 promote 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 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.

“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 features Glen Craig from Pacific Advisory and Job Dalesa who is on the West Papua Reunification Committee.

When asked on his opinion on whether MSG in itself 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.

Don’t miss out on the next Coffee & Controversy Show, 9am next Tuesday.

Vanuatu Daily Post
Copyright © 2016 Trading Post Limited. All Rights Reserved

July 20, 2016 0

Vanuatu Deputy PM: Melanesians Being Killed By Asians

Pasifik.News – By Adam Boland – July 20, 2016

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

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.

“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.

“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.

“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

MSG membership for United Liberation Movement for West Papua postponed on legal technicality

Posted: July 15, 2016 | Author: dailyvanuatu | Filed under: The Daily Digest

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders’ meeting, currently being held in Honiara, Solomon Islands, yesterday deferred its decision to welcome the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) as a full member of MSG until another meeting planned for Port Vila in September. The MSG says this decision was taken as the wording of MSG’s rules for membership needs to be clarified to give ULMWP, a liberation movement, the same membership status as MSG founding member (and fellow liberation movement), Front de libération nationale kanak et socialiste (FLNKS) of New Caledonia.

MSG associate, Indonesia, the colonial occupier of West Papua, opposes ULMWP joining the MSG, and is currently supported by only two out of the five founding members of MSG, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

The majority of the founding members of MSG – Vanuatu, FLNKS and Solomon Islands – support full membership for the West Papua liberation movement, as do the majority of the population of all MSG countries.

PNG PM Peter O’Neill, who has been a vocal supporter of Indonesia, is currently fighting for his political life as his government faces a vote of no-confidence in PNG’s parliament.

O’Neill has also come under attack from former Prime Minister of PNG, Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, for opposing West Papuan independence in defiance of the overwhelming support of PNG’s people for the decolonisation of the other half of the island of New Guinea, where he says “our ancestors roamed freely over our shared land and sea for centuries prior to colonial and Christian interventions”.

Here’s the full text of the MSG’s statement on the decision:

Leaders agreed to defer the consideration of the application for full membership by ULMWP until membership criteria and guidelines are further developed by the Sub-Committee on Legal and Institutional Issues (SCLII), considering fundamental principles, political aspirations, and principles of international law and to be completed end of September 2016.

Leaders did not reach consensus and directed the SCLII to undertake further review on:

(i) the revised application Procedures, Criteria, and Participatory Rights and Obligations of an Observer and an Associate Member to the MSG.

(ii) the new membership guidelines for full membership to the MSG.

Leaders agreed to meet in Port Vila, Vanuatu before the end of September 2016.

July 19, 2016 0

Vanuatu says West Papua Let down By MSG

PinaNews – 10:24 pm GMT+12, 14/07/2016, Vanuatu

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai says the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has failed the people of West Papua.

The MSG last night deferred a decision on awarding full membership to the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) until a new meeting can be held in September.

The delay is meant to allow the MSG Secretariat to further develop its membership criteria.

“Vanuatu 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,” said Prime Minister Salwai.

Vanuatu led the push to have the ULMWP’s status upgraded, despite stiff opposition from Indonesia which said such a move would undermine its national sovereignty.

“Vanuatu has always believed that other Melanesians are ready to be admitted into the MSG family,” says Salwai. “Vanuatu is adamant that being Melanesians, they should not be subject to any form of criteria.”

The Prime Minister has offered to host Melanesian leaders in September to ensure the issue is finally tackled.

SOURCE: PASIFK NEWS/PACNEWS

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

Indonesia Moves To Isolate West Papua From MSG

Pacifik.news – By Adam Boland – July 16, 2016

Indonesia is confident the West Papua independence movement will never be granted full membership to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Melanesian leaders debated the issue on Thursday in Honiara but delayed making a decision until September so that more clarity could be provided about membership criteria.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai says he “gravely regretted” the deferral and has vowed to keep fighting for the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP).

But Indonesia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Desra Percaya believes the MSG will never give full membership to a “separatist movement”.

“The active participation and intensive lobbying by the Indonesian delegation, which also included representatives from five provinces, Maluku, North Maluku, East Nusa Tenggara, Papua and West Papua, has convinced MSG leaders not to accept the ULMWP’s membership application,” he says.

That “intensive lobbying” from Jakarta means Papua New Guinea and Fiji are likely to maintain their opposition to the ULMWP’s bid. Both countries say they respect the sovereignty of Indonesia.

Economic incentive

Mr Percaya says the Melanesian region stands to benefit economically from closer ties to Indonesia.

“The combined GDP of Southeast Asian countries is US$2.6 trillion with a population of approximately 622 million people,” he says. “Almost a quarter billion of this population live in Indonesia, including the 11-million strong Melanesian population.”

The ULMWP says it remains committed to securing full membership of the MSG and doesn’t believe the deferral means Indonesia has got its way.

July 16, 2016 0