PNWP Peace Action Will Be Supporting Members West Papua MSG

Buctar Tabuni Aksi demo 2012

Jayapura, 22/5 (Jubi) - Buchtar Tabuni, Chairman of the West Papua National Parliament said it will conduct peaceful protests in June 2013 to support a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Papua Groups (MSG). 

"PNWP commissioned the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) called on the Papuan People either abroad or in the Land of Papua to immediately mobilize to support West Papua registration process as an official member of the MSG in the city of Noumea, New Caledonia," said Buchtar Tabuni in a release received tabloidjubi.com, Wednesday (22/5). 

Currently Papua remained under Dutch control, the relationship between the Land of Papua with the countries in the South Pacific has always been a concern. Mark W. Kaisiepo three times led the delegation of West Papua following the Conference of the States in the South Pacific. After integration with Indonesian Papua, this relationship was finally broken. 

"These countries have started to initiate a meeting in Canberra that led to the 1947 Canberra.Articles of formation of the South Pacific in accordance with the agreement Canberra on February 6, 1947 was established the South Pacific Commission (South Pacific Commission) includes the self-governing island that has not been in the South Pacific, which is located at the start of the equator including the provinces of Papua and West Papua, "said Tabuni tell you a little history of MSG in releasenya. 

Commission chose the capital of New Caledonia, a French colony where bermarkasnya South Pacific Commission in which the commission was formed when the countries in the South Pacific is not yet independent, still colonized countries the Netherlands, the UK, France and Australia. Since then, these countries began meeting regularly to discuss the future of the South Pacific region. 

Conferences I, 1950 at Suva, capital of Fiji, the colonies of England. Conference II, 1953 in Noumea, New Caledonia, French colonies. Conference III, 1956 in Suva, the capital of Fiji. Conference IV, 1959 in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. V Conference, 1962 in the capital of Samoa Pago-pago East, the colonies of the United States."Therefore, in Papua should be peaceful action, worship and free speech in church or open field on June 18, 2013," the appeal Tabuni in releasenya. 

For VI Conference 1965 is planned at Hollandia, now Jayapura but was canceled because of the region to the territory of the Republic of Indonesia. (Jubi / Aprila wiring)

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MSG talks on West Papua

By, Tevita Vuibau

MSG member countries including Fiji will make a formal decision on the way forward in dealing with the situation in West Papua when they meet at the MSG leaders summit in June.

This was the word from the MSG Eminent Persons Group headed by former Fiji Minister for Foreign Affairs Kaliopate Tavola.

West Papua has been occupied by Indonesia for the past 50 years.

Human rights abuses and countless crimes by members of their armed forces attracted regional and international scorn.

The territory has also been pursuing full membership of the MSG and has received widespread support.

Mr Tavola said the MSG EPG had listened to the views expressed on the issue and noted that there was a lot of support for the West Papua case.

"We do also note that the West Papua case is problematic. There are a number of issues attached to it, for instance there is an application which I understand has been lodged with the chair of the MSG," Mr Tavola said.

"That will take its own process and the leaders will make a determination on that when they meet in June."

He explained that the issue of West Papua was complex and the EPG was taking note of new developments.

"We as a group take note of what is happening on the ground. The application has been lodged and it is likely that the leaders will make a determination in June that will determine the way forward on how we manage the West Papua case."

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=233140

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Likely Indonesia out, West Papua in

By Godwin Ligo

Vanuatu r, Moana Carcasses, 

holding the West Papua Freedom flag flanked 

by the West Papuan delegation (photo dailyVU)

 

If Vanuatu national leaders, and some top brass in the opposition, mean what they say of the support to the West Papuan cause, towards self-determination, Indonesia will likely be voted out, and West Papua will be voted in, as observer to the Melanesian Spearhead group at June 2013 MSG Meeting in New Caledonia.

On Wednesday last week, Vanuatu Prime Minister Moana Carcasses assured a West Papua delegation during a meeting in his office that he will support West Papua request to grant and admit West Papua as an observer status in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Meeting at Noumea in June.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Ham Lini already pledged his support in the last government to move for Indonesia to be stripped off the MSG Status and West Papua to be granted the MSG Observer status.

The current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nipake Natapei also already publicly made his views clear on his stand on the issue. He told Daily Post two weeks ago that he will support West Papua to obtain MSG observer status in the upcoming June MSG Meeting in Noumea New Caledonia.

The Shefa Provincial Government came out loud and clear also supporting West Papuan cause.

Even the Pacific Conference of Churches’ recent Assembly in Honiara, Solomon Islands, was very vocal on the issue and declared it to the regional political and civic leaders as well as to the world that it supports the cry of the West Papua Melanesians.

The Chiefs in Vanuatu have, on a number of occasions called on Vanuatu governments to take up the issue of West Papua in the regional and international forums to pressure Jakarta to hand West Papua Melanesians their political freedom- and to stop the killings of the Melanesians in West Papua by the Indonesian military forces, as alleged in numerous media and independent reports around the region and beyond.

Then there’s the question of which side of the fence will the other MSG members are likely to support.

On March 6, 2013, Papua New Guinea National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop, told West Papuan, Benny Wenda, at a concert in Port Moresby before a crowd of 3,000 people that: “There is no historical, religious, or moral justification for Indonesia’s occupation of West Papua.” 

Civil Society groups and activists in Melanesian countries have come out loud and clear on the issue- for Indonesia military to stop killing West Papuans and for the MSG Leaders to dispose Indonesia from MSG Observer status and accept West Papua instead.

While Daily Post could not get comment from the MSG Headquarters in Port Vila on the issue, DP understands that the issue of removing Indonesia from the MSG observer status and handing over the status to West Papua is likely to be high on the agenda.

More: http://www.dailypost.vu/content/likely-indonesia-out-west-papua

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MSG chairmanship transition coincides with momentum for West Papua membership

The spokesperson for New Caledonia’s Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, Victor Tutugoro has been elected to be the next Melanesian Spearhead Group chairman.

He will hold the role for two years from June when New Caledonia hosts the MSG Leaders Summit.

Johnny Blades reports that the summit coincides with a major drive to help the self-determination aspirations of Melanesian peoples not yet independent, notably West Papuans:

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Furthering the Kanak bid for independence from France was a core reason for the inception of the MSG twenty-five years ago.

MSG commitment to this cause may have veered off course in the intervening years, but it’s sharply returning to focus with the change of chairmanship and the fact that the four-year window for a possible referendum on New Caledonia’s independence as provided by the Noumea Accord begins next year.

Adding to the momentum, the former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare recently warned that if the MSG cannot help fulfill the Kanak political aspirations, then ’it risks the danger of losing its existence’.

However Sir Michael has implored the MSG Secretariat to ’exercise caution and patience’ in dealing with the other big Melanesian self-determination issue, that of West Papua.

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation recently lodged a formal application for full MSG membership and the summit is expected to feature a formal response.

There are signs that after years on the outer, encompassing the controversial granting of MSG observer status to Indonesia, the West Papuans’ time to join the club may have arrived.

Vanuatu’s new Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil says his government will push for West Papua to be granted full MSG membership

    “It’s about time to recognise that the West Papua struggle, someone has to do something about it. We cannot just close our eyes and deny, say that there is nothing happening over there, because there are many human rights issues happening over there. We want West Papua to be a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group - this is something that we’re going to lobby for.”

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation has been lobbying Melanesian leaders over the membership matter, including a visit to Fiji to talk with the current MSG chairman, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

An advisor to the Coalition is the former Vanuatu Prime Minister Barak Sope who was impressed by the willingness of Fiji’s Prime Minister to pursue the matter.

    “He is in a position to put it to the other heads of government. When I spoke last time (to RNZI on the matter), I was critical of Bainimarama and others because of Indonesia coming in to the MSG. But with their position this time, they’ve said ok, the West Papua case - after following the (application) procedure - it’ll now be considered by the MSG, it’s up to the MSG leaders to decide.”

The Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Clay Forau says his government is expecting an approach by the coalition, but has indicated his country will give its support.

    “I think that’s the way we’re going now, helping our other friends in their fight for self-determination. You’re aware that we also co-sponsored a UN resolution for French Polynesia’s inscription on the decolonisation list.”

While Sir Michael Somare says dialogue and extensive consultation should underlie the MSG approach on the West Papua issue, it’s clear that the new generation of Melanesian leaders emerging is less willing than him to defer to the issue as purely an Indo domestic matter for Indonesia.

Membership in the MSG for West Papua is no certainty, but FLNKS chairmanship of the MSG is - both would give significant momentum to the decolonisation process in the region.

News Content © Radio New Zealand International
PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

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Jailed by Indonesia but still campaigning for freedom

By. Len Garae 

 

Otto Odokwame, Benny Wenda, Andi Amiseba in PNG

Benny Wenda had tears in his eyes when he sang a song he composed while his hands were tied behind his back for two weeks in a dark, stinking, notorious Indonesian jail.

It was a song of freedom.

Wenda did not beat about the bush when he stated that Indonesia should have asked for permission from West Papua to request Observer Status at the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

This dedicated highlander, tribal leader and former political prisoner escapee, is a global campaigner for the Freedom of the people of West Papua from Indonesian occupation.

The London-based tribal leader made the statement at a press conference in the Chief’s Nakamal yesterday. Wenda was asked his view of the answer to a question the writer of his article had put to the Indonesian Ambassador to Vanuatu, Nadjib Riphat Kesoema at a press conference two weeks ago.

The question was how he felt about the fact that his country has been granted Observer Status at MSG while West Papua is seeking full membership of the Melanesian Organisation.

While the Indonesian Ambassador had replied that West Papua should have asked permission from Indonesia to seek full membership of MSG, Wenda said West Papua is a natural part of Melanesia and the most logical approach for Indonesia to take should have been for Jakarta to ask permission from West Papua to seek Observer Status at MSG.

His prompt answer triggered instant smiles on faces within the audience and hand clapping during the press conference.

Wenda hails from the Dani Tribe in the Highlands of West Papua and grew up in his village. But he explained, “My village was bombed by the Indonesian military when I was a child and many members of my family were killed. Later I began to campaign for a Free West Papua. For the ‘crime’ of helping to lead a peaceful movement for independence, I was arrested, imprisoned and tortured by Indonesian soldiers. They threatened to kill me, but I escaped to the UK.

“Many of my friends and family back in West Papua have been killed, raped or tortured. Life is hard for them. All we are asking for is the freedom that you enjoy every day – the freedom to speak your mind, to choose your government and to live without fear of persecution. Please hear my peoples’ cry for help”.

Wenda said the people of West Papua hold Vanuatu in high esteem because to them, Vanuatu is their beacon of hope in their 50 years of suffering under the yoke of a cruel, inhumane Indonesian military.

While a number of groups have been formed beside OPM in the struggle for freedom in West Papua and there are internal differences, Wenda said the fact remains and that is that they all operate under the one Morning Star Flag and they are all for the Freedom of West Papua.

He said his tribe is the biggest tribe in West Papua with a total population of approximately 500, 000 people. 

While acknowledging the committed roles played by his Vanuatu-based colleagues Andy Ayamiseba and Dr John Ondawame in the struggle for the freedom of their people and country, he said his people from the highlands are the most energetic lot when it comes to standing up for their rights to be a Free People.

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Media release-MSG Silver Jubilee celebrations –Should not forget West Papua

Australia West Papua Association (Sydney)

Media Release 27 Jan 2013

MSG Silver Jubilee celebrations –Should not forget West Papua

The Australia West Papua Association congratulates the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) on the official launching of its Silver Jubilee celebrations in Port Vila on the 28 January. We also congratulate the MSG on its past successes and on it's increasing importance around the Pacific region. 

Joe Collins of AWPA said “the MSG showed its visionary policy in supporting the people of Kanaky (New Caledonia) to be a member of the MSG represented by the Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS).  

We now urge the MSG to show the same support for the people of West Papua”.

We believe the MSG can play an important role in helping facilitate dialogue between representatives of the West Papuan leadership and the Indonesian Government. The West Papuan people have been calling on the international community for years to support such dialogue as a way of solving the many issues of concern in West Papua.

We urge the MSG to support those representatives of the West Papuan people involved in the self-determination struggle being granted full membership at the next MSG Summit to be held in New Caledonia (Kanaky) in 2013. 

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AWPA uses the name “West Papua” to refer to the whole of the western half of the Island of New Guinea.  However, “West Papua” at this time is divided into two provinces, Papua and West Papua.

Posted by AWPA Sydney News

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