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Posted at 03:05 on 05 April, 2013 UTC
Vanuatu’s new Prime Minister says his government will push for Indonesia’s Papua region to be granted full membership at the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
Moana Carcasses Kalosil says increased support for West Papuan self-determination will be flagged in a statement he is about to deliver to the nation announcing his government’s action plan in its first 100 days in office.
“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.”
Moana Carcasses Kalosil says his government will terminate the agreement between the previous government and Indonesia under which Vanuatu receives Indonesian police and military assistance.
He says a unit specially focussing on West Papua will be established in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
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FRIDAY, 05 APRIL 2013 04:19http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/regional/17526-time-to-take-a-stand-on-west-papua
2) Time to take a stand on West Papua
A PAPUA New Guinea Government minister, speaking as a private citizen, has said it is time PNG made a bold stand for the independence struggle of the mostly Melanesian indigenous of the Indonesian province of West Papua, PACNEWS reports.
Health minister Michael Malabag posted on social media site, Sharp Talk, Monday that “sooner or later PNG has to ... bring it before the United Nations Assembly”.
“Enough is enough,” Malabag wrote, stating that he was making his comments in a private capacity.
Malabag said: “The West Papua issue bugs me all the time.
“PNG has a number of advocates including Governor (Powes) Parkop.
“Indonesia is the biggest Muslim nation in the world and I can understand PNG diplomacy where it matters most but does it have to be like this all the time.
“Indonesia has encroached our homeland both in Western and West Sepik and that is a reality.
“I am a government minister but I have my own views on this issue but sooner or later, PNG has to make a bold stand and bring it before the United Nations Assembly ... enough is enough.”
The official PNG government position on the West Papua freedom struggle is that it is an internal issue of Indonesia.
The struggle, however, has impacted PNG enormously in that periodically there has been rushes of refugees across the unmanned border into PNG.
The issues has again come to light last week with Governor Parkop speaking openly in support of the movement.
Also last week, Fiji prime minister Vorege Bainimarama received representatives of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation in Suva in their quest for membership to the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
Bainimarama heads the group as its chair.
Bainimarama heads the group as its chair.
The West Papua delegation was led by long time campaigner and vice chairman of the grouping, Dr Otto Ondowame, general secretary Rex Rumakiek and former prime minister of Vanuatu, Barrack Sope.
- PACNEWS
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