2) West Papua’s plea to MSG
3) MSG leaders likely to knock back West Papuan bid
4)
Four arrested in possession of two firearms in Papua
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http://www.solomonstarnews.com/news/regional/2717-special-msg-meet-in-png
1) Special MSG meet in PNG
PAPUA New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill Tuesday welcomed the Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and Spokesperson of the FLNKS, and Co-Chair of the Special MSG Leaders Summit, Victor Tutugoro during his courtesy call in Port Moresby.
PM O’Neill on behalf of the Government and People of Papua New Guinea said:
“I am greatly honoured by your visit and warmly welcome you to PNG on this occasion of the Special Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit.
“The Special MSG Leaders Summit which will be held on the 26 June, 2014, will also discuss the outcomes of MSG’s Special Mission to Indonesia led by the Foreign Minister of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, MSG’s candidatures for the post of the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and the future of MSG following its 25 years Silver Jubilee,” Prime Minister O’Neill said.
Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo left for the special summit yesterday unannounced.
Mr O’Neill said Tutugoro was elected at the Assembly of the Northern Province since 2005, and has been the 2nd Vice-President during 2005 – 2009 Mandate. He is also currently the second vice-president of the Northern Province under this mandate (2009 – 2014), and in charge of “Health, Social Issues and Societal Issues", “Economy Development Division” and "Environment Division”.
"Newest Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG); after having been the spokesperson of the FLNKS from 2002 to 2010, in charge of the external relations of the FLNKS since 2010 and spokesperson of the FLNKS at the MSG,” PM O’Neill said.
Meanwhile, Fiji will be sending a 100 member contingent of artists, performers and musicians for the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea this week.
Government’s Director within the Department of Culture and Heritage, Peni Cavuilagi said that “the National Organising Committee based at the Fiji Arts Council had mobilised a strong contingent that included officials to represent Fiji at the festival”.
The Fijian delegation accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for iTaukei, Savenaca Kaunisela, will leave the country today ahead of the opening ceremony on Saturday.
Countries that have confirmed participation for the festival include PNG as host country, Fiji, Solomon Islands, West Papua, Timor Leste, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Torres Strait.
The 2-week festival begins on the 28th of June and ends on the 11th of July 2014.
“I am greatly honoured by your visit and warmly welcome you to PNG on this occasion of the Special Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit.
“The Special MSG Leaders Summit which will be held on the 26 June, 2014, will also discuss the outcomes of MSG’s Special Mission to Indonesia led by the Foreign Minister of Fiji, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, MSG’s candidatures for the post of the Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and the future of MSG following its 25 years Silver Jubilee,” Prime Minister O’Neill said.
Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo left for the special summit yesterday unannounced.
Mr O’Neill said Tutugoro was elected at the Assembly of the Northern Province since 2005, and has been the 2nd Vice-President during 2005 – 2009 Mandate. He is also currently the second vice-president of the Northern Province under this mandate (2009 – 2014), and in charge of “Health, Social Issues and Societal Issues", “Economy Development Division” and "Environment Division”.
"Newest Chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG); after having been the spokesperson of the FLNKS from 2002 to 2010, in charge of the external relations of the FLNKS since 2010 and spokesperson of the FLNKS at the MSG,” PM O’Neill said.
Meanwhile, Fiji will be sending a 100 member contingent of artists, performers and musicians for the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea this week.
Government’s Director within the Department of Culture and Heritage, Peni Cavuilagi said that “the National Organising Committee based at the Fiji Arts Council had mobilised a strong contingent that included officials to represent Fiji at the festival”.
The Fijian delegation accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for iTaukei, Savenaca Kaunisela, will leave the country today ahead of the opening ceremony on Saturday.
Countries that have confirmed participation for the festival include PNG as host country, Fiji, Solomon Islands, West Papua, Timor Leste, New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Torres Strait.
The 2-week festival begins on the 28th of June and ends on the 11th of July 2014.
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2) West Papua’s plea to MSG
From POST COURIER News Thu 26 Jun 2014
PORT MORESBY, PNG ----The Free West Papua Campaign PNG chapter is appealing to the members of Parliament for the West Papua’s membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
In a letter to the Papua New Guinea Minister for Culture and Tourism Boka Kondra, the group has targetted the Melanesian Spearhead Group Meeting which starts today to appeal for West Papua’s application for membership.
The Post-Courier understands the application for membership will be deliberated at the special MSG meeting.
The group said the PNG government has agreed with other MSG leaders on three significant decisions on West Papua’s right at last year’s MSG meeting.
These are to: recognise West Papua’s right to self determination, recognise human rights abuse taking place in West Papua and to raise the issues through international mechanisms and for West Papua to become a member of MSG by the West Papua National Coalition for liberation.
The group is aware that MSG countries are supporting the plight for self determination advocated by churches through the PNG Council of Churches, the Pacific Council of Churches and World Council of Churches.
They stated it would be a historical decision if MSG supported the plight for self-determination. They have urged the support the Vanuatu Government, for a resolution on a Special Rapporteur on West Papua.
Vanuatu government presented the West Papua Human Rights issues to the UN calling for a resolution on Special Rapporteur on West Papua.
The group also dismissed Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato’s claims that he did not see any evidence of human rights abuse during the MSG Foreign Ministers’ fact finding mission to West Papua early this year.
The letter has raised serious concerns of human rights abuses in Papua and that the abuses are real and may lead to the extinction of West Papuans.
Further, the group states that interventions such as the free trade policy between Indonesia and PNG, the establishment Fiji Military and police academy and Indonesian observer status in MSG is a clear sign of Indonesian influence in the Melanesian region.
Meanwhile, Melanesian Prime ministers, ministers and 362 participants arrived in Port Moresby to participate in the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture and to attend the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting.
Solomon Island’s Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman along with their ministers and a total of 256 participants from New Caledonia and 106 from Fiji all arrived Wednesday at the Jacksons International airport.
On hand to welcome the visitors on behalf of the government was the Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Ben Micah.
“I represent the PNG government to give a kind welcome to these two PM’s and other foreign ministers that travelled along with them,” Minister Micah said.
He said the politicians have been anticipating the good meeting today to discuss many issues relating to the region and countries in the Melanesian zone.
“We have adjourned the parliament seating because approximately thousands of visitors would come into the city as well our own provinces in PNG,” said Minister Micah.
Minister Micah said the festival as well as the MSG meeting would be the biggest gathering for the Melanesian people and it would be good if they focused more on hosting for the visitors.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3) MSG leaders likely to knock back West Papuan bid
Updated at 4:19 pm today
Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders meeting this week in the Papua New Guinea capital are expected to formulate a decision on a West Papuan bid to join the grouping.
The leaders have been briefed on the outcomes of the MSG Foreign Ministers delegation to Indonesia's Papua region in January.
The trip, which was boycotted by Vanuatu, was aimed at fact-gathering for the MSG decision on the West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation membership application which was lodged a year ago.
The Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Clay Forau was part of the delegation.
"We provided them with our findings during the recent trip to West Papua, and so it's for the leaders to decide whether for them to become a member of MSG or one other option for the leaders is to regard Indonesia's membership (MSG observer status) as representing the whole of Indonesia."
Clay Forau has indicated the leaders are likely to reject the West Papuan bid.
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4) Four arrested in possession of two firearms in Papua
Wed, June 25 2014 23:28 | 372 Views
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - The security personnel in the Papua provincial capital of Jayapura arrested four people on Wednesday morning for carrying two firearms and 300 bullets.
The security personnel made the arrest after intercepting a car in the city, which was carrying four people, identified by the initials EW, DW, TT, and R.
Chief of the Papua Provincial Police Inspector General Tito Karvanian confirmed the arrest while attending a coordination meeting here on Wednesday to discuss the preparations for the July 9 presidential poll.
"Right now, they are undergoing intensive interrogation," he stated on the sidelines of the workshop.
According to Antaras reliable source, the two firearms and 300 bullets measuring 7.7 millimeters were intended to be sent by road to the provinces mountainous region.(*)
The security personnel made the arrest after intercepting a car in the city, which was carrying four people, identified by the initials EW, DW, TT, and R.
Chief of the Papua Provincial Police Inspector General Tito Karvanian confirmed the arrest while attending a coordination meeting here on Wednesday to discuss the preparations for the July 9 presidential poll.
"Right now, they are undergoing intensive interrogation," he stated on the sidelines of the workshop.
According to Antaras reliable source, the two firearms and 300 bullets measuring 7.7 millimeters were intended to be sent by road to the provinces mountainous region.(*)
Editor: Heru
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5) MSG focus on culture
Source:
The National, Thursday June 26th, 2014
FOREIGN Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato says one of the key objectives of the Melanesian Spearhead Group is the preservation and promotion of Melanesian culture and identity.
He made the remark at a special MSG foreign affairs ministers meeting yesterday to prepare for the two-day leaders’ summit and foreign ministers’ meeting in Port Moresby today.
The fifth Melanesia Arts and Culture Festival will begin on Saturday in Port Moresby.
“It is particularly pleasing to welcome and see participants from all our countries and members arriving to participate at the Festival of Arts and Culture,” he said.
“As Melanesians, we have rich, diverse and proud traditions and folklore that we must not only preserve and pass onto our children, but that our Melanesian narrative must be told to the world because I think and believe that we have a wonderfully unique story,” he said.
Pato said some important decisions would be made going through the agenda for the leaders’ summit.
“PNG joins your countries in supporting the political aspirations of all Melanesian people everywhere in their right to self-determination,” he said.
“However, we want groups that show interest to join the MSG to have the overwhelming support of the people they represent.
Pato said another issue was Melanesia’s candidate for the post of the Pacific Islands Forum secretary-general.
“You will agree that it is time we put a Melanesian in that important seat,” he said.
“MSG leaders’ decisions have always been based on consensus and Melanesian solidarity.
“We need to agree on one candidate to ensure that we have a good chance of securing the post.”
He made the remark at a special MSG foreign affairs ministers meeting yesterday to prepare for the two-day leaders’ summit and foreign ministers’ meeting in Port Moresby today.
The fifth Melanesia Arts and Culture Festival will begin on Saturday in Port Moresby.
“It is particularly pleasing to welcome and see participants from all our countries and members arriving to participate at the Festival of Arts and Culture,” he said.
“As Melanesians, we have rich, diverse and proud traditions and folklore that we must not only preserve and pass onto our children, but that our Melanesian narrative must be told to the world because I think and believe that we have a wonderfully unique story,” he said.
Pato said some important decisions would be made going through the agenda for the leaders’ summit.
“PNG joins your countries in supporting the political aspirations of all Melanesian people everywhere in their right to self-determination,” he said.
“However, we want groups that show interest to join the MSG to have the overwhelming support of the people they represent.
Pato said another issue was Melanesia’s candidate for the post of the Pacific Islands Forum secretary-general.
“You will agree that it is time we put a Melanesian in that important seat,” he said.
“MSG leaders’ decisions have always been based on consensus and Melanesian solidarity.
“We need to agree on one candidate to ensure that we have a good chance of securing the post.”
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