1) MSG leaders
gather in New Caledonia
2) MSG Foreign Ministers meeting
underway today in New Caledonia.
3) Fiji recounts
achievements under its leadership, hands over FMM chair to FLNKS
4) Papua Police Office Torched by Mob Over
Assault Allegations
5) Papua Police dispatch team to Pegunungan Bintang
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1) MSG leaders gather in New Caledonia
As Melanesian leaders gather in Noumea this week for the summit of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the offices of New Caledonia’s Southern Province – known as the ‘Blue House’ – are covered with a 20-metre high poster.
The poster shows the famous handshake in 1988 between Kanak leader Jean-Marie Tjibaou and anti-independence leader Jacques Lafleur. The poster proclaims “25 years of peace”, after this gesture of reconciliation led to the end of armed conflict between the French army, settler groups and the Kanak independence coalition Front de Libération Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS).
This year is the 25th anniversary of the 1988 Matignon-Oudinot Accords, which ended the conflict in New Caledonia known as Les Evenements (The Troubles) from 1984 to 1988.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of the MSG, the sub-regional organisation that unites the largest Pacific island nations.
The MSG was formally established in March 1988 after years of co-operation between Melanesian leaders in support of Kanak independence. This regional support was vital as the Pacific Islands Forum successfully lobbied for the re-inscription of New Caledonia on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories in December 1986.
Today, representatives of the nationalist movement sit alongside opponents of independence in the multi-party Government of New Caledonia. But the FLNKS continues to look for solidarity from neighbouring Melanesian countries as a key component of their campaign for decolonisation.
The MSG summit comes at a crucial time for New Caledonia. The 1998 Noumea Accord established a 20-year transition towards a new political status for the French Pacific dependency. After elections in May 2014 for New Caledonia’s three provincial assemblies and Congress, the incoming parliamentarians must decide whether to proceed to a referendum on self-determination before 2018.
The presence of MSG leaders in New Caledonia highlights the increasing integration of New Caledonia into its regional environment, and the reality – often challenging to the local European community – that New Caledonia is a part of Melanesia.
Meetings in three provinces
As leaders and officials arrive from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji for the biennial MSG summit, events are being held in all three provinces of New Caledonia.
Last Thursday and Friday, senior MSG officials Peter Eafeare (PNG), Charles Wea (FLNKS), Joy Kere (Solomon Islands), Romanu Tikotikoca (Fiji) and Simeon Athy (Vanuatu) gathered in the east coast town of Pweedi Wimia (Poindimie), to begin consultations on a full work program. Welcomed to the Northern Province by Provincial President Paul Neaoutyine, the MSG delegations prepared a wide-ranging agenda, covering trade, labour mobility, environment, nuclear transhipments and self-determination.
The officials meeting prepared positions to be presented to the next stage on Monday and Tuesday, when foreign ministers from the MSG states meet on the Island of Lifou, in the outlying Loyalty Islands. Proposals include the organising of the inaugural MSG games in New Caledonia during 2014, holding the next Melanesian Festival of the Arts and Cultures in Papua New Guinea in July 2014, and maintaining support for the FLNKS as a “raison d’etre” for the MSG.
The delegations then return to the capital Noumea for a major cultural event on Wednesday evening to mark the 25th anniversary of the Spearhead Group, followed by the leaders summit on Thursday and Friday.
Wednesday’s cultural performances, to be broadcast live on local TV, will be held at the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre, named after the charismatic Kanak independence leader who was assassinated in 1989. This event marks the culmination of anniversary celebrations that have already been held in each Melanesian capital.
The 25th anniversary performance will be attended by leaders who founded the organisation in 1988, including former Prime Ministers Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare of Papua New Guinea and Ezekial Alebua of Solomon Islands, with Vanuatu politician Ham Lini representing the late Father Walter Lini. But the organisation is looking forward as well as back in time - an MSG Eminent Persons Group will report to the summit this week on their vision for the future of the organisation.
Closing the officials’ meeting in Pweedi Wimia, FLNKS spokesman Mickael Forrest noted: “I would like to acknowledge the work accomplished under the leadership of Fiji over the last two years, which has reinforced the role of the Spearhead Group in regional and international affairs.”
Outgoing MSG Chair Voreqe Bainimarama will now pass the leadership of the organisation to FLNKS spokesman Victor Tutugoro for the next two years. Bainimarama’s presence in New Caledonia, however, has been challenged by a leading anti-independence politician.
Philippe Gomes, leader of the Caledonie Ensemble party, has been lobbying the French state to refuse a visa to the Fijian leader. Gomes, who also serves as one of New Caledonia’s representatives in the French National Assembly in Paris, already campaigned against Bainimarama leading an MSG mission to New Caledonia in mid-2012 (The mission proceeded later in the year, with Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola representing Fiji).
Last week, Gomes wrote to French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius calling for Bainimarama to be refused entry.
Criticising the Fiji regime’s breaches of human rights, Gomes’ 6 June letter also argued that: “The Fijian Prime Minister is seeking new partnerships with the leaders of China and Russia, while also seeking to develop ties to countries beyond the Pacific region, where his actions have been sharply criticised. He has previously wanted to challenge the traditional relations between his archipelago and the two powers of the Pacific region, Australia and New Zealand. This is why I ask you to refuse any request for an entry visa coming from Mr. Bainimarama.”
The lobbying has been unsuccessful, with the Fijian leader scheduled to attend the summit this week.
West Papua on the agenda
With a full agenda, one of the most challenging debates will be over the status of West Papua and a bid for MSG membership by West Papuan nationalists.
Beyond the widespread sentiment that the time has come for action, current MSG members have different perspectives on the relationship with Jakarta and Jayapura, after Indonesia obtained MSG observer status in 2011.
Last March, the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation for West Papua (WPNCL) formally lodged an application with the MSG Secretariat in Port Vila to become full member of the sub-regional body. The application is on the summit agenda and a WPNCL delegation led by Vice President John Otto Ondawame has been formally invited by the FLNKS. The delegation will arrive this week to lobby MSG leaders, seeking full membership of the sub-regional body.
West Papuan nationalists have gained public support from a range of Melanesian statesmen, such as former Solomon Islands Prime Minister Ezekial Alebua. The new government in Vanuatu led by Moana Carcasses Kalosil has overturned close ties with Jakarta established by outgoing Prime Minister Sato Kilman. However MSG leaders will be balancing their support for the West Papuan movement with their growing economic and political ties with Indonesia.
In the week leading up to the MSG summit, PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill led a large delegation to Jakarta, to meet Indonesia’s President for discussions on trade, investment, border controls and extradition. As part of its increasing South-South dialogue and membership of the Non-Aligned Movement, Fiji too has been strengthening relations with Indonesia.
Indonesia is sending a large delegation to Noumea, including a number of former independence activists like Franz Albert Joku and Nick Messet, to argue the case against membership for the WPNCL.
Behind the scenes, leaders attending this celebration of Melanesian unity have some complex decisions to make, with crucial implications for the relationship between Pacific nation states and movements for self-determination in our region.
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2) MSG Foreign Ministers meeting underway today in New Caledonia.
Posted at 22:19 on 16 June, 2013 UTC
The Melanesian Spearhead Group Foreign Ministers meeting gets underway today in New Caledonia.
The meeting, which is being held on Lifou in the Loyalty Islands, comes ahead of the annual Leaders Summit in Noumea later this week.
Johnny Blades reports from Noumea.
“Senior officials from MSG members - Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia’s FLNKS movement - have been meeting over recent days in Noumea to prepare items for discussions among the leaders. A number of issues including trade and labour mobility are understood to be on the agenda. However the discussion item dominating this MSG summit is the formal membership bid by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation which leaders will decide on at the end of the week. In signs that an important member of the group may not be in support of the bid, PNG’s Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato is absent, with PNG’s High Commissioner to Fiji Peter Eafeare filling in for him in Lifou, while the office of PNG’s Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has said he will not be at the leaders summit, and that Deputy Prime Minister Leo Dion will be there on his behalf.”
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3) Fiji recounts achievements under its leadership, hands over FMM chair to FLNKS
LIFOU, New Caledonia --- Fiji’s two year leadership tenure of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) comes to an end at the Summit of Leaders in Noumea this week, with a call on members to ‘carve our own niche in Pacific regionalism.’
Outgoing chair of the MSG Foreign Ministers Meeting, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said since Fiji took over the chairmanship of the group in March 2011, the organisation has achieved a number of milestones and extended its presence internationally.
“We have the potential to strengthen our relationship with other metropolitan powers to determine our destiny.
Ratu Inoke urged members not to be too concerned about what others think of the group.
“We must determine our common goals and co-operate activities that enhance our co-operation and integration.
These common goals, according to Ratu Inoke must ensure the creation of wealth, employment, access to basic services and empowerment of the underprivileged communities in Melanesia.
He called on members to empower the Port Vila based Secretariat to advance the MSG cause.
“I call on your indulgence in the timely payment of our contributions to allow the Secretariat to discharge their roles and responsibilities effectively.
The achievements of the MSG in the last two years, Ratu Inoke said was in line with the promise made by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama to Leaders in March 2011.
On the political front, the MSG police commissioners have advanced work on the department of peacekeeping operations. Once fully operational, the department will be responsible for overseeing the MSG police unit, a regional police academy and the humanitarian and emergency response co-ordinating centre.
“It’s important that we collectively realize out true potential in peacekeeping operations internationally, Ratu Inoke told his counterparts from Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and FLNKS.
“Our unique customs and traditions make us effective peackeepers.
“We must also effectively share information to prevent our countries against the threats of globalisaton and liberalization.
Another notable achievement is the conclusion of the review of the MSG’s constitution. The review attempts to improve the organisation’s decision making process, especially in addressing new membership applications.
The only membership application before the MSG is from the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation based in Port Vila.
Ratu Inoke also highlighted significant progress made in trade and economic co-operation amongst member countries. MSG countries are considering Closer Economic Relations and the possible creation of a common market through the expansion of the MSG Trade Agreement into services and labour mobility.
In 2012, MSG Leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Skills Movement Scheme (SMS), which came into force in September last year.
Under Fiji’s leadership, the MSG considered environment and climate change issues, resulting in a Leaders declaration on environment and climate change and a framework on Green Growth for future development.
Ratu Inoke said Fiji is confident that the achievements of the past two years will serve as a launching pad for greater things for the organisation as the FLNKS take on the helm of leadership.
He handed over the mantle of leadership to first ever woman chair of the MSG Foreign Ministers group, Madame Caroline Machoro-Regnier of the FLNKS.
In her brief statement as she assumed chairmanship of the foreign ministers meeting, Madame Machoro-Regnier said she was proud of her new role as it marks a milestone for the emancipation of the people of Kanak.
“I hope that our chairmanship of MSG will foster the wishes of other people for emancipation.
On the wishes of the people of West Papua to join the Melanesia Spearhead Group, Madame Machoro-Regnier said FLNKS supports full membership for the people’s representative of West Papua.
“This is a difficult issue, one that is highly politicized because we lack the facts and figures on violations on the ground in West Papua. However, the people of West Papua need our action and support, said Madame Machoro-Regnier.
She said the MSG is at the cross-road, celebrating its 25 years of existence.
“Addressing these political issues will send a strong signal to the rest of the world that we are strong and that we respect and value each other in dealing with the West Papuan cause.
Madame Machoro-Regnier is an elected member of the New Caledonia Congress representing the Union Caledonienne, one of the political parties within the FLNKS.
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http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/papua-police-office-torched-by-mob-over-assault-allegations/
4) Papua Police Office Torched by Mob Over Assault Allegations
Jayapura. A mob armed with machetes and arrows stormed a police district headquarters in Pegunungan Bintang, setting the building and several vehicles ablaze after claims that police beat an intoxicated man set-off a wave of anti-police sentiment in this conflict-prone region.
Police said they were powerless as hundreds of local residents rampaged through the police compound, torching motorbikes and vehicles in a short-lived but violent attack. The mob arrived around 11 a.m. local time on Sunday. They disbursed a short time later, Papua Police spokesman Sr. Comr. I Gede Sumerta Jaya said.
“Aside from the district police office, they also attacked cars belonging to the [Pegunungan Bintang] police chief and his deputy, as well as a patrol car,” Sumerta said. “They also attacked 25 motorcycles parked around the police headquarters compound.
“We don’t know [the financial] losses from this attack yet.”
The Indonesian news portal Tempo.co reported that several police officers were injured in the attack. It was not immediately clear whether the attackers were also injured. The situation was back under control Sunday evening, Sumerta said.
The violence was reportedly set-off by accusations that police assaulted a drunk man during his arrest.
“They reportedly got information that First Brig. A. K. arrested a drunk man, who had resisted the arrest, which led to a fight before the drunk person was tackled,” Sumerta said. ”Because of the fight, the drunk man sustained bruises and people thought the police member had assaulted him, which caused them to be angry and commit the anarchic action.”
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