From infoPAPUA.org
WEST PAPUANS reach out for Pacific support
By (RNZI)
Apr 14, 2008, 23:25
WEST PAPUANS reach out for Pacific support
1) Vanuatu’s foreign minister vows to push West Papuan self-determination at MSG (RNZI) 11.4.08
2) Indonesian independence groups push for diplomatic recognition (ABC) 11.4.08
3) Minister Wells meets representatives of West Papua leaders (Vanuatu Daily Post) 12.4.08
4) Time to right the great Melanesian wrong (Solomon Star)14.4.08
Radio New Zealand International
Vanuatu’s foreign minister vows to push West Papuan self-determination at MSG
11 April, 2008
Vanuatu’s Minister of Foreign Affairs has vowed to push the issue of West Papuan self-determination at next months Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting in Port Vila.
George Wells has met with West Papuan leaders who were in Vila this week for a major meeting of the West Papua National Coalition of Liberation.
Mr Wells said he wants to see West Papua ultimately given Observer status in the MSG as well as the Pacific Islands Forum.
Vanuatu governments has long supported the West Papuan cause but have often been a lone voice on the issue in the region.
Mr Wells’ first political advisor Jonas Cullwick says the government knows it must push for support from other MSG governments first and foremost.
“This is an opportunity to get the MSG and other Melanesian countries to back Vanuatu in this position and maybe there’s a better possibility after that that wider support can be got if Melanesian groups have stronger backing for the West Papuan cause.”
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News
11 April 2008
Indonesian independence groups push for diplomatic recognition
A new coalition of pro-independence groups from Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua says it is seeking diplomatic recognition from Melanesian countries in the Pacific.
The group, the West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation, is made up of 28 pro-independence groups.
Vice-chairman Dr John Ondawame says the group is seeking observer status with the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), which is made up of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands, and the Indigenous FLNKS political party in New Caledonia, as a first step towards wider diplomatic recognition.
"There is some sign of support coming from Fiji and Solomon Islands and New Caledonia, but we will see what the Vanuatu-Papua New Guinea position is on this matter," he said.
If it is successful with the MSG, the coalition says it will seek recognition from other nations in the Asia Pacific region.
Vanuatu Daily Post
Raymond
Sat, 12 April, 2008
Minister Wells meets representatives of West Papua leaders
The Minister of foreign affairs and external trade, Hon. George A. Wells, has assured West Papua leaders now in Port Vila he planned to raise the issue of West Papuan independence struggle during the forthcoming Melanesian Spearhead Groups leader’s summit in the Vanuatu capital in May.
The minister gave the undertaking during a courtesy call the West Papuan leaders’ made to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Thursday evening last week.
Expressing his wish to see West Papua ultimately given Observer status in Melanesian sub-regional organization as well as the South Pacific Forum, Mr. Wells said he would like to see the issue discussed in the MSG leaders’ summit and a resolution carried at the end of the meeting.
‘’Melanesia cannot be considered free until West Papua also is free’’, he said.
During the meeting lasting an hour-and a half, the representatives of the West Papuan leaders expressed their gratitude for the Vanuatu’s government support for their cause highlighted by recognition of the West Papua Representative Office in Port Vila. They also thanked the Minister of Foreign Affairs for his personal support witnessed by the recent provision of a passport to WPRO representative, Andy Ayamiseba. The West Papua leaders recounted stories of their struggle, expressed their wish to find ways forward through peaceful means, and requested Vanuatu’s continued support which they described as a ‘lifeline’ for West Papuans and their aspirations.
Mr. Wells told the delegation that as he saw it there was only one way forward as far as Vanuatu’s support for the West Papua independence cause was concerned.
‘’Only the Government of Vanuatu can assist with the way forward. Any other means would only be futile.’’ He said the government needed to push for support from other MSG governments first and foremost. After then the MSG can support Vanuatu’s commitment for wider regional and international support.
The Minister expressed his apologies for two appointments with the delegations earlier in the week that he was not keep due to Council of Ministers and Parliament commitments.
On that subject, the first political advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Cullwick said the fact that Mr. Wells spent over an hour with the West Papuan leaders was big. Cullwick said this clearly showed the Minister shared the same feelings every Ni- Vanuatu had for the West Papuan people. He added this gesture therefore nullified recent press reports that pictured the Minister and the Government of Prime Minister Ham Lini Vanuaroroa as very unsympathetic on the issue.
Solomon Star
Time to right the great Melanesian wrong
Monday, 14 APRIL 2008
http://solomonstarnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=991&change=103&changeown=87&Itemid=45
FINALLY, hope for the forgotten Melanesians.
And a chance for Prime Minister Derek Sikua and this country to try to help right one of the great wrongs of Melanesia.
It comes with Vanuatu’s move to push the cause of the Indonesian-ruled West Papuans at next month’s Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting. This is being held in the Vanuatu capital, Port Vila.
Vanuatu Foreign Minister George Wells promised support after the West Papua National Coalition of Liberation met in Port Vila the other day.
Vanuatu wants the West Papuans to be given observer status within the Melanesian Spearhead Group. It would link them with Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Kanaks of New Caledonia.
Dr Sikua should support this Vanuatu move despite all the behind-the-scenes pressures he will now come under not to.
For the Indonesians have no more right to occupy West Papua than they did East Timor.
Indonesia’s mistreatment of the Papuans and exploitation of West Papua’s rich resources are well documented.
Just the other day, for instance, TV viewers in Honiara saw a graphic Australia Network documentary telling of the spreading of HIV/AIDS amongst the Papuan population.
There were suggestions this is part of a strategy to weaken the Papuans and strengthen the position of Asian Indonesians being moved into Papua.
So let’s never forget the following despite all the huff and puff from Jakarta.
Indonesia’s occupation of West Papua has no credibility. It was only allowed to happen because it suited American Government interests during the Cold War.
More recently Australian and Papua New Guinean governments have largely kept West Papua off the Pacific Islands Forum agenda. They have thwarted efforts to get the Forum to address the issue of West Papuan self determination.
Canberra does this because it worries about maintaining Australia’s own relationships with its massive and sensitive neighbour to its north.
To appease Jakarta, Canberra pragmatically turns a blind eye to the rights of the West Papuans. This has been especially important to Canberra since the fallout with Jakarta over East Timor.
In Port Moresby, there is personal sympathy for their fellow Melanesians across the border in the west.
But Papua New Guinea governments also fear provoking any confrontation with the Indonesians. They are especially wary of the powerful Indonesian military who hold such sway in West Papua and benefit so much from the occupation there.
There are also some in Papua New Guinea who see benefits, perhaps personal, in snuggling up to the Indonesians.
Vanuatu alone has long supported the West Papuan cause. It has been prepared to stand up to all the pressure over this. Not just from the Indonesians but also from Canberra and Port Moresby.
The West Papua National Coalition of Liberation is said to bring together 28 pro-independence groups. Its vice chairman, Dr John Ondawame, told Radio Australia after they met in Port Vila that there are now signs of support from Fiji and Solomon Islands too.
Let’s hope this finally translates into a true Melanesian effort to right one of the great wrongs of this part of the world. And Solomon Islands joins Vanuatu in leading this effort.
Granting the West Papuans observer status in the Melanesian Spearhead Group is an important first step
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