1) PNG Leader’s Visit May Herald Better Relations
2) Vanuatu echoes wishes of Melanesia to see West Papua gain independence
3) Papua to buy 10 Twin Otter airplanes
4) MSG rebrands itself under an enhanced sub regionalism group
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http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/png-leaders-visit-may-herald-better-relations/
1) PNG Leader’s Visit May Herald Better Relations
Greater cooperation between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia may be on the horizon following a three-day visit by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and 100 of the country’s business leaders to Jakarta this week.
Several experts have called for Indonesia to strengthen relations with its eastern neighbor.
Bilateral talks during O’Neill’s visit, which ended on Wednesday, covered illegal trading, logging and border security, problems Indonesia has previously voiced concerns about.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with O’Neill on Monday at the State Palace to discuss strengthening bilateral relations. Indonesian businesspeople also discussed investment and trade opportunities with their PNG counterparts during the visit.
During the leaders meeting, Yudhoyono and O’Neill signed 11 memorandums of understanding on issues including extradition of criminals and suspects, border security, energy cooperation, tourism and sports deals.
“PNG is ready to assist Indonesia in addressing the many challenges along the border areas,” O’Neill told a joint press conference after the meeting.
Yudhoyono stressed the importance of economic cooperation between the two countries.
“In total, trade increased 35 percent on average between 2008 and 2011. Although there was a slight decline in 2012, we believe we can increase trade cooperation further this year,” the president said.
Deals between the two countries will allow direct flights from Jakarta to Port Moresby, which officials from both governments said would begin in August.
Indonesia has been pushing for an extradition agreement in order to prevent the country’s fugitives, especially Papuan rebels and corruption convicts, from seeking refuge in PNG.
Several Free Papuan Movement (OPM) members are believed to have fled to PNG after allegedly fatally shooting police and civilians.
The recent escape of graft convict Djoko Tjandra raised concerns about extradition arrangements with PNG.
Djoko, the former owner of now-defunct Bank Bali, fled Indonesia for Port Moresby on a chartered flight in 2009, just a day before the Supreme Court upheld his conviction for embezzling Rp 546 billion ($56.7 million) in bailout funds meant for his bank during the 1998 Asian financial crisis.
He was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison and ordered to return the embezzled funds. Djoko has been listed as a wanted person by Interpol since 2009.
On Tuesday, PNG Defense Minister Febian Pok met with his Indonesian counterpart Purnomo Yusgiantoro to discuss increasing defense cooperation, especially in the military industry.
“If we can do it seriously, we can boost our defense industry,” Purnomo said.
He added that there were opportunities for PNG to buy weapons and other defense equipment produced in Indonesia.
Foreign-policy watchers say Indonesia can boost the PNG economy and use its ties as a leverage to clamp down on insurgent activities in Indonesian Papua.
Aleksius Jemadu, dean of the Pelita Harapan University School of Social and Political Sciences, said Indonesia should convince PNG that the archipelago can act as a gateway to stronger relations with other Asian nations. It could also consider sponsoring PNG to become a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a position also sought by East Timor.
“PNG sees Indonesia as a very important neighbor, not only because the two countries are geographically close, but also because the leading role of Indonesia in Asia, particularly in Asean, that could become a bridge for PNG to expand its economy,” he said.
Aleksius said that PNG’s interest in expanding its economic cooperation with Asia could lead to strong economic ties with Indonesia, which could then be used as leverage to push PNG and its leadership to cooperate on combating Papuan insurgent groups.
Bantarto Bandoro, a senior lecturer with the Indonesian Defense University, agreed that Indonesia should use its closer bond with PNG as leverage to demand the country cut direct and indirect support for OPM, a rebel group known to operate with a significant web of support among Pacific countries.
“Papua and the issue of sovereignty are the main reasons why Indonesia should forge better relations with PNG,” he said.
Aleksius and Bantarto both expressed optimism that future relations between Indonesia and PNG may improve despite a long history of mistrust stemming from Indonesia’s perceived annexation of the western half of Papua.
“The long story of love-hate relationship between PNG and Indonesia may not be erased in one-night, even if Prime Minister O’Neill’s official visit opened multiple sectors for cooperation,” Bantarto said. “But leaders from both countries can come up with better understanding to overcome the existing mistrust.”
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2) Vanuatu echoes wishes of Melanesia to see West Papua gain independence
By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Noumea, New Caledonia
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Moana Carcasse Kalosil has thanked Fiji and the FLNKS of New Caledonia for including West Papua on the agenda of the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting in Noumea this week.
“This is indeed a huge achievement of which all peoples in our Melanesia countries should be proud of.
Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Moana Carcasse Kalosil has thanked Fiji and the FLNKS of New Caledonia for including West Papua on the agenda of the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) meeting in Noumea this week.
“This is indeed a huge achievement of which all peoples in our Melanesia countries should be proud of.
PM Kalosil echoed the wishes of the people of Melanesia to see the people of West Papua gain independence.
“We are aware of the human rights violations and atrocities being committed against West Papuans in their motherland.
“I join the many voices of peace loving citizens around the world to call for an end human rights abuses.
“We are aware of the human rights violations and atrocities being committed against West Papuans in their motherland.
“I join the many voices of peace loving citizens around the world to call for an end human rights abuses.
Vanuatu, PM Kalosil said his country has strong political and economic relations with Indonesia at a bilateral level.
“So this issue is very important to us.
While he urged the MSG to stand up for the people of West Papua, the Vanuatu Prime Minister said Indonesia has also been open to dialogue with Melanesian countries.
“I believe as a friend of Melanesia, important issues could be discussed without diluting our collective determination to see West Papua granted their right to self determination some day, said PM Kalosil.
Speaking to MSG Leaders for the first time, the head of the Port Vila based West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, Dr John Otto Ondawame said it was historical for his group to appear before the leaders, after struggling to do so for fifty years.
“For us this is an attempt to bring back a lost Melanesian son.
“It’s time for Melanesian to help solve these longest conflicts in our region - West Papua, New Caledonia and the struggles of the people of Maohi-Nui.”
Indonesia on the other hand assured MSG countries the people of Papua and West Papua are provided every opportunity and assistance for development.
“We are doing our best to attend to their needs and accommodate their aspirations, said Ambassador Wardana, the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia.
Ambassador Wardana said President Susilo Yudhoyono has directed ‘special autonomy plus’ status to Papua and West Papua provinces in the near future.
The Indonesian Government has allocated a budget of 48 trillion Rupiah or about US$5.6 billion for Papua and West Papua provinces. This is 25 percent more than the last two years.
In addition, Ambassador Wardana revealed that the Special Autonomy Law, the two provinces retain 70 percent of their local revenues to finance programs and projects approved at the local level.
Further, Indonesia has put in place a regulation where only citizens of Papua ethnicity can run for governor in the two provinces to protect the Papua identity.
Five of Indonesia’s 34 provinces are Melanesia. These provinces – Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara, occupy more than a third of Indonesia’s territory.
SOURCE: PACNEWS
“So this issue is very important to us.
While he urged the MSG to stand up for the people of West Papua, the Vanuatu Prime Minister said Indonesia has also been open to dialogue with Melanesian countries.
“I believe as a friend of Melanesia, important issues could be discussed without diluting our collective determination to see West Papua granted their right to self determination some day, said PM Kalosil.
Speaking to MSG Leaders for the first time, the head of the Port Vila based West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, Dr John Otto Ondawame said it was historical for his group to appear before the leaders, after struggling to do so for fifty years.
“For us this is an attempt to bring back a lost Melanesian son.
“It’s time for Melanesian to help solve these longest conflicts in our region - West Papua, New Caledonia and the struggles of the people of Maohi-Nui.”
Indonesia on the other hand assured MSG countries the people of Papua and West Papua are provided every opportunity and assistance for development.
“We are doing our best to attend to their needs and accommodate their aspirations, said Ambassador Wardana, the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia.
Ambassador Wardana said President Susilo Yudhoyono has directed ‘special autonomy plus’ status to Papua and West Papua provinces in the near future.
The Indonesian Government has allocated a budget of 48 trillion Rupiah or about US$5.6 billion for Papua and West Papua provinces. This is 25 percent more than the last two years.
In addition, Ambassador Wardana revealed that the Special Autonomy Law, the two provinces retain 70 percent of their local revenues to finance programs and projects approved at the local level.
Further, Indonesia has put in place a regulation where only citizens of Papua ethnicity can run for governor in the two provinces to protect the Papua identity.
Five of Indonesia’s 34 provinces are Melanesia. These provinces – Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara, occupy more than a third of Indonesia’s territory.
SOURCE: PACNEWS
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4) MSG rebrands itself under an enhanced sub regionalism group
By Makereta Komai, PACNEWS Editor in Noumea, New Caledonia
The new direction for the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) for the next 25 years set by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) builds on the current strategy of the group a sub-regional bloc.
Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola, the head of the five men EPG team told PACNEWS the new strategy for the 25 year old organisation is to reach out regionally and internationally.
“One of the pillars is for the MSG to have an outreach programme to reach out to other small island states. We have explained in the report mechanisms by which the MSG can reach out. That way MSG provides the leadership and creates initiatives for other Pacific Island Countries so that we can share some of these benefits with other Pacific Island Countries.
This re-branding under an enhanced MSG sub regionalism is the start of a new initiative, a new era for the group, said the EPG report obtained by PACNEWS.
The strengthening of the group will act as an effective counter to regional initiatives by the region’s two developed partners, Australia and New Zealand, that may unwittingly splinter or challenge the group, according to the EPG report.
“Such a re-branded strategy is the right response in the context of the geopolitics at play in the Pacific, the group believed.
Given the growing prominence of the MSG as a sub-regional group, the plan is to also look beyond our regional borders.
“We are looking at improving our bilateral relations. We want to take advantage of the fact that we are now a legal entity under the UN. We want to take full advantage of that and have direct access to the UN. That way we may be able to secure more developmental assistance.
At the sub-regional level, the MSG will seek partnership with existing sub regional groupings in the Pacific.
“The MSG can have partnership with the Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG), which has just been established. The Micronesians have also established their grouping and over many years now we’ve had the Smaller Island States in existence.
“Part of the strategy is to have partnerships with the various sub regions. We have to be more strategic in the way we choose the subjects that we co-operate with. We have proposed two important issues of fisheries and climate change for instance, said Ambassador Tavola.
The EPG report was endorsed by MSG Leaders in Noumea Thursday.
SOURCE: PACNEWS
The new direction for the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) for the next 25 years set by the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) builds on the current strategy of the group a sub-regional bloc.
Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola, the head of the five men EPG team told PACNEWS the new strategy for the 25 year old organisation is to reach out regionally and internationally.
“One of the pillars is for the MSG to have an outreach programme to reach out to other small island states. We have explained in the report mechanisms by which the MSG can reach out. That way MSG provides the leadership and creates initiatives for other Pacific Island Countries so that we can share some of these benefits with other Pacific Island Countries.
This re-branding under an enhanced MSG sub regionalism is the start of a new initiative, a new era for the group, said the EPG report obtained by PACNEWS.
The strengthening of the group will act as an effective counter to regional initiatives by the region’s two developed partners, Australia and New Zealand, that may unwittingly splinter or challenge the group, according to the EPG report.
“Such a re-branded strategy is the right response in the context of the geopolitics at play in the Pacific, the group believed.
Given the growing prominence of the MSG as a sub-regional group, the plan is to also look beyond our regional borders.
“We are looking at improving our bilateral relations. We want to take advantage of the fact that we are now a legal entity under the UN. We want to take full advantage of that and have direct access to the UN. That way we may be able to secure more developmental assistance.
At the sub-regional level, the MSG will seek partnership with existing sub regional groupings in the Pacific.
“The MSG can have partnership with the Polynesian Leaders Group (PLG), which has just been established. The Micronesians have also established their grouping and over many years now we’ve had the Smaller Island States in existence.
“Part of the strategy is to have partnerships with the various sub regions. We have to be more strategic in the way we choose the subjects that we co-operate with. We have proposed two important issues of fisheries and climate change for instance, said Ambassador Tavola.
The EPG report was endorsed by MSG Leaders in Noumea Thursday.
SOURCE: PACNEWS
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