2) Time of the essence for West Papua, says WPNCL
4) New Caledonia Congress helps fund MSG secretariat.
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Posted at 07:00 on 20 June, 2013 UTC
A former Papua New Guinea prime minister, Sir Michael Somare, says granting West Papuan membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group must be done on the basis that it is a Melanesian community and not because it is a sovereign independent state.
Sir Michael made the comment in New Caledonia where the MSG passed the leadership to the FLNKS Movement.
Sir Michael says a not too dissimilar arrangement can be found in the Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation where Taiwan and Hong Kong, regarded by many as part of China, participate in development with independent sovereign states.
He says if West Papua eventually becomes a member of the MSG, it will serve as the venue for both Indonesia and West Papua to dialogue and regularly brief MSG countries on developments in West Papua.
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2) Time of the essence for West Papua, says WPNCL
Posted at 06:21 on 20 June, 2013 UTC
The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation says Indonesian security forces continue to inflict human rights abuses and violations on West Papuans while the international community does little about it.
The Coalition has lodged a formal application for membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group, saying membership will help galvanise international focus on ongoing abuses against the indigenous people of Indonesia’s Papua region.
A decision on the application was expected at the 19th MSG Leaders Summit underway in New Caledonia, but MSG Foreign Ministers have indicated the decision could be deferred.
The coalition’s Paula Makabori says that in terms of the decision, time is of the essence for West Papuans.
“The civilians of West Papua, who are the Melanesian people, they face the death threats and summary executions and disappearance - and women get raped. It’s just increasing.”
Paula Makabori.
MSG Leaders are tucked away in their retreat today, and are expected to make a statement on the Coalition’s application tomorrow.
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Posted at 03:41 on 21 June, 2013 UTC
A former Papua New Guinea prime minister says the Melanesian Spearhead Group must support New Caledonia’s pro-independence movement for it to win next year’s election.
Sir Michael Somare made the call in Noumea where he is a special guest of the MSG.
He says the MSG has that obligation, as a member, and the FLNKS is entitled to expect nothing less from other MSG members.
Sir Michael says the MSG owes it to the people of Kanaky to remain true to its commitment to defend and promote independence as the inalienable right of indigenous peoples of Melanesia.
In the elections of the past decade, the parties making up the FLNKS as well as the pro-independence Labour Party secured less than 40 percent of the vote.
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4) New Caledonia Congress helps fund MSG secretariat.
Posted at 03:41 on 21 June, 2013 UTC
New Caledonia’s Congress has agreed to give 270,000 US dollars towards the running of the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s administration.
The partnership deal was signed in Noumea by a Congress vice-president and former leader of the pro-independence FLNKS Movement, Roch Wamytan.
The event was boycotted by the Congress president, Gerard Poadja, in protest at the presence of the Fiji regime leader, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
Only 12 of the Congress’ 54 members attended the ceremony.
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