2) Smaller islands of the Pacific noted the West Papua issue, but took no position in their Port Moresby summit today.
3) Forum decisions to set region’s agenda for world stage
4) Climate change threatens Forum solidarity
5) Papua Regional Secretary Said MSG is Jakarta’s Authority
6) MAF Prioritizes Service in Papua Remote Areas
7) Pigai: Soldiers Involved in Shooting Should be Fired
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1) West Papua Becomes Most Controversial Issue in PIF Agenda
Jayapura, Jubi – The Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) kicked off on 4 September 2015 with a workshop on Regional Media launched by the Secretary of Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor.
She told reporters that fisheries, climate change, human rights violations in West Papua, cervical cancer, and Information, Communication and Technology were on the agenda.
However, she did not give further detail on three recommendations that previously driven by PIF Secretariat to be discussed among the leaders of Pacific countries. Earlier, Taylor, who’s the first female Secretary General of PIF, said the Pacific leaders were possibly recommend three points of action, including sending an investigation team of the ministers of Pacific countries to West Papua, enforcing West Papua to be listed in the list of decolonization and providing sanctions against Indonesian private companies and State companies that convicted to human rights violations. She also said the allegation on human right violations has been submitted to the Pacific leaders as consideration.
“Three submissions that representing more than 30 civil society organizations throughout the Pacific have been proposed in the agenda. In term of nomenclature, these submissions have indicated the West Papua as a term used to describe the allegation on human right violations. Needless to say that West Papua is becoming the most controversial issue in the agenda,” said Taylor.
“Three submissions that representing more than 30 civil society organizations throughout the Pacific have been proposed in the agenda. In term of nomenclature, these submissions have indicated the West Papua as a term used to describe the allegation on human right violations. Needless to say that West Papua is becoming the most controversial issue in the agenda,” said Taylor.
She further added in the discussion with Pacific leaders to prepare PIF, two issues that might be rejected in the forum are West Papua and cervical cancer.
“I will not answer it. I want the civil society in the Pacific to think and tell me what to do and the best way that I could inform the leaders, as I will meet with sixteen Pacific leaders on next week and I’ve been received a lot of opinions. They would consider these five issues. They might not discuss the entire issues, but West Papua issue would be a challenge for several Pacific countries. And about cervical cancer, many people do not understand about how important is this issue to be discussed for the sake of women and girls. The disease is killing many women in the Pacific,” said Taylor.
“I will not answer it. I want the civil society in the Pacific to think and tell me what to do and the best way that I could inform the leaders, as I will meet with sixteen Pacific leaders on next week and I’ve been received a lot of opinions. They would consider these five issues. They might not discuss the entire issues, but West Papua issue would be a challenge for several Pacific countries. And about cervical cancer, many people do not understand about how important is this issue to be discussed for the sake of women and girls. The disease is killing many women in the Pacific,” said Taylor.
She also admitted the civil society groups in the Pacific pushed West Papua to be returned in UN decolonization list, like Tahiti. She confirmed that ahead to PIF, the civil society and non-governmental organizations throughout the Pacific (PIANGO) held a meeting from 1 to 3 September 2015 in Port Moresby, in which she was also participated. Two main issues that pushed by the civil society groups are Climate Change and West Papua.
The Executive Director of PIANGGO, Emele Duituturaga told Jubi on Saturday (5/9/2015) that despite the international agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, civil society groups in the Pacific also requested the Pacific leaders to pay attention on West Papua issue. “We have a direct resource from West Papua concerning to the violence of human right violations. Yes, we recognized that it is under question. That is the reason why we urged the investigation team to investigate the human right violations. It’s urgent,” said Duituturaga. She added PIANGO and other civil society groups in the Pacific also asked the Pacific leaders to enforce Papua to be listed in UN decolonization list.
Separately, Octovianus Mote, the Secretary General of United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) convicted about the struggle of the people of West Papua for an independence and sovereignty will succeed. It’s demonstrated through the supports of civil society that continually increased. Papua has become an issue not only in Melanesia but also in the South Pacific.
“Papua has become a concern of the entire South Pacific countries because the problem of Papua is the problem of the people in South Pacific. It’s not only covering Melanesia, but also Polynesia and Micronesia,” said Mote. He further added though there are government of certain countries that are trying to blockage the ULMWP leaders to safe their good relations with Indonesia, but they would not able to block the “people’s power” that are rolling in the South Pacific.
“Papua has become a concern of the entire South Pacific countries because the problem of Papua is the problem of the people in South Pacific. It’s not only covering Melanesia, but also Polynesia and Micronesia,” said Mote. He further added though there are government of certain countries that are trying to blockage the ULMWP leaders to safe their good relations with Indonesia, but they would not able to block the “people’s power” that are rolling in the South Pacific.
Concerning the issue of decolonization of West Papua, the former Kompas journalist said the Government of Solomon Islands is at the front.
“The decolonization of West Papua is part of the struggle of liberation of West Papua under the leadership of Papua Islands that is currently the Chairman of MSG,” Mote said. (Victor Mambor)
“The decolonization of West Papua is part of the struggle of liberation of West Papua under the leadership of Papua Islands that is currently the Chairman of MSG,” Mote said. (Victor Mambor)
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2) Smaller islands of the Pacific noted the West Papua issue, but took no position in their Port Moresby summit today.
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3) Forum decisions to set region’s agenda for world stage
Resolutions reached by Pacific leaders at the 46th Pacific Island Forum (PIF) will set the regional agenda for the world stage.
“2015 marks a critical point for our region in influencing the course of international affairs,” said Dame Meg Taylor, secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat.
She opened the Small Island States (SIS) leaders meeting this morning and challenged them to work with other PIF member countries in line with the Pacific Regionalism goals.
The SIS grouping comprises the Cook Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Republic of Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.
“The SIS has a role to play in elevating your collective concerns and perspectives on the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals and the momentum towards the COP21 (United Nations Climate Change) meeting in Paris, throughout the course of your deliberation with fellow leaders and key partners this week.”
“Your collective resolve is critical in further shaping a strategic and political Pacific response to these international endeavours.”
The five topics on the card for round table discussion by the leaders of the 16 member PIF are; to increase returns from fisheries and maritime surveillance, climate risk and disaster risk management, information and communication technology, West Papua and cervical cancer.
Dame Meg said that the real underlying issues affecting many smaller Pacific Island countries had yet to be addressed.
“For too long we have expressed much intention and hope in addressing the unique vulnerabilities of the SIS, but unfortunately at times with little or varied results.
“We cannot afford not to place special attention on the SIS, if we are to reflect and better understand the real rewards of regionalism.
“The region stands to gain and learn from the special attention given to the smallest of our collective.”
“Where this can be most evident, is of course in our endeavours to tackle the devastating and indiscriminate impacts of climate change on the SIS.”
Meanwhile, the formal PIF leaders meeting will take place on Wednesday.
Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu are the countries represented.
Caption: Dame Meg Taylor speaking and listening attentively is the President of Palau, Thomas Esang Remengesau, Jr who is also the outgoing chair of the PIF leaders.
Author:
Charles Yapumi
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4) Climate change threatens Forum solidarity
By Online Editor
11:19 pm GMT+12, 06/09/2015, Papua New Guinea
By Samisoni Pareti, Islands Business Editor in PNG
Leaders of small island states in the Pacific met in Port Moresby today amidst concerns about a watered down regional position on climate change because of the strong lobbying from their bigger and wealthier members of Australia and New Zealand.
A senior official attending the small island states leaders’ summit told Islands Business that his country is unhappy about the draft Pacific Island Forum statement on climate change that is already in circulation among Forum delegates.
Yet to be released publicly, the document reportedly supports a 2 degrees temperate rise target, instead of the 1.5 degrees being advocated by small island states who are members of AOSIS, the Alliance of Small Island States 2 degrees is the preferred target of industrialised countries, of which Australia and New Zealand are members of.
“We much prefer the string wordings on climate change as contained in the Suva Declaration of the Pacific Islands Development Forum summit that concluded in Suva, Fiji last week,” said this official who spoke on conditions of anonymity. “The Pacific Islands Forum on the other hand is advocating a 2 degrees target, which in our view is unacceptable and too watered down to satisfy the bigger members of the Forum.
“At this stage, we may have to push for a separate small island state position on climate change to take to COP 21 in Paris in December, quite apart and separate from the main Pacific Islands Forum position.”
Climate Change is one of only five issues on the agenda of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders that will meet here on Wednesday and Thursday this week. The other issues are fisheries and maritime surveillance, West Papua, Information Communications Technology and cervical cancer.
At the opening of the Forum’s Small Island State Leaders meeting at Languna Hotel in Waigani earlier today, outgoing chair of the SIS Leaders Summit, and President of Palau Tommy E Remengesau Junior called for solidarity among small island leaders in fighting climate change.
“Let us make our message in Paris a message that we can be proud to bring back to our people, one that will protect our environment and our cultural heritage. Our countries may be seen as small but we are in fact pioneers and trailblazers in restoring balance to our earth. We have set examples by choosing to act before it is too late, to stop the threats of illegal fishing and global overharvesting of the ocean’s resources through the creation of a large scale marine protected areas.”
President Remengensau handed over the chair to Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga.
Attending her first Forum and Small Island States Leaders’ Summit, Papua New Guinea national and Secretary General of the Forum, Dame Meg Taylor said small island states – all seven of them namely Cook Islands, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau and Tuvalu – are key members of the Pacific Islands Forum.
“We cannot afford not to place special attention on the SIS (Small Island States), if we are to reflect and better understand the real rewards of regionalism. The region stands to gain and learn from the special attention given to the smallest of our collective. Where this can be most evident is of course in our endeavour to tackle the devastating and indiscriminate impacts of climate change on the SIS.”
Niue’s Premier Toke Talangi was the only SIS Leader that was absent from their summit in PNG today. Kiribati’s President Anote Tong left soon after the opening statements with his officials explaining that he has to attend a bilateral with Forum host and soon to be the new Pacific Islands Forum chair, Peter O’Neill.
Tomorrow, the seven SIS of the Forum will be joined by their remaining seven Pacific island countries as members of the Pacific states of the ACP bloc of countries. The breakdown in negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union is expected to the main item on the agenda.
SOURCE: ISLANDS BUSINESS/PACNEWS
Jayapura, Jubi – In June, the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) accepted Indonesia an associate member, on the ground that it represents five provinces that are home to 11 million Melanesians. Those provinces are Papua, West Papua, Maluku, North Maluke and East Nusa Tenggara.
Two of five provinces, Papua and West Papua, have become a hot issue ahead of the meeting of the leaders of MSG countries. In fact, before the summit has been taken in Honiara in the end of last June, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O’Neill, expressed he wanted both governors of Papua and West Papua, Lukas Enembe and Abraham Atururi to come representing the people of West Papua in the MSG forums. O’Neill expressed this expectation at Lowly Institute, Sydney in the middle of May 2015. He emphasized those who legitimate to represent the people of West Papua are the current elected leaders that are the governors of Papua and West Papua provinces.
“We want to state one voice in the MSG concerning to West Papua. But, there are many groups representing many of interests. The only person who legitimate in representing the people of West Papua are the current elected leader, and it’s the governor of province,” O’Neill said in Lowy Institute forum.
“We want to state one voice in the MSG concerning to West Papua. But, there are many groups representing many of interests. The only person who legitimate in representing the people of West Papua are the current elected leader, and it’s the governor of province,” O’Neill said in Lowy Institute forum.
But his expectation did not materialize. Two governors of Papua were not participating in the MSG Summit. There are no representatives of these both eastern provinces of Indonesia, as well as the representatives of other claimed Melanesian provinces of Maluku, North Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara.
Last week, in an interview with Jubi and TV Maori at the Papua Governor Office, Jayapura, the Papua Regional Secretary, Herry Dosinaen asserted that the issue of Papua could only be answered with the revised Law on Special Autonomy. “We shouldn’t have exaggerated thought in this country. Just do the simple thing. The Papua Provincial Government considers in addressing the Papua issue is how to revise the regulation (Special Autonomy Law) in total. We could accommodate it,” Dosinaen said.
“However, if it’s concerning to the foreign affairs, I think we just continue to perform the task of governance and development. We are still being in that corridor. So, about the issue of bearing supports (to MSG), the provincial government and the governor keep doing our duty, as we should. The foreign affairs (MSG) is the authority of Jakarta (Central Government),” he said. (Victor Mambor/rom)
“However, if it’s concerning to the foreign affairs, I think we just continue to perform the task of governance and development. We are still being in that corridor. So, about the issue of bearing supports (to MSG), the provincial government and the governor keep doing our duty, as we should. The foreign affairs (MSG) is the authority of Jakarta (Central Government),” he said. (Victor Mambor/rom)
6) MAF Prioritizes Service in Papua Remote Areas
Jayapura, Jubi – The Sentani-based Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) airline is giving priority in providing services to Papua remote community such as transporting the building materials and teachers to the remote areas.
“We have three services, but the most important is to serve the community needs. There is much kind of people’s needs. Sometimes we loaded our planes with cargo of several of things, including the both living and dead animals or building materials such as roof, cement, glass, tiles and nails except woods,” the Director of MAF in Indonesia, David Holsten, said in Sentani on Friday (4/9/2015).
“So, if the government wants to build schools at Papua remote areas, sometimes MAF brought the building materials out there,” he said. Besides the building materials, MAF also loaded and transported rice, cooking oil, instant noodles and clothes to Papua remote areas. According to him, the airline is mostly serving the rural areas of Papua that almost have no connecting road to facilitate access to the people in the Papua remote areas. “Well, there are some road accesses in the remote areas but the rain often cause the landslide and make the road couldn’t be used anymore,” he said.
He also added that MAF is also often transporting the teachers who assigned in the remote areas.
“We load the building materials and foods for almost everyday,” he added. (*/rom)
7) Pigai: Soldiers Involved in Shooting Should be Fired
Jayapura, Jubi – The shooting incident involving military personnel, which killed two civilians and injured others in Mimika last week, has raised a concern among many parties, including members of Papua Legislative Council.
Papua Councilor from Mimika Electoral District, Wilhelmus Pigai stated those personnel must be dismissed dishonorably. “When military personnel do violation on ethic of conduct, they must be discharged without honor. They must be taken to further process according to the law. So, I urged them to be fired. No need investigation, because everyone knew. People witnessed when the perpetrators shot the victims,” Pigai said on Wednesday (2/9/2015).
According to the Law No.34/2004, Military is State’s apparatus, whose duty is to protect the sovereignty of State either from internal or external threat and to assist the Regional Government in providing security for the people. He thought this incident is the severe human right violation. “I regret for what was occurred. There shouldn’t be a statement saying it was a self-defense. It’s wrong. The legal process should be done in transparency, so people could monitor the process and it must be executed in Mimika,” he said.
However, Pigai appreciated the Regional Military Commander General Hinsa Siburian who promptly gave respond to the incident. “Military Commander is very communicative. Moreover, he is the former Mimika District Military Commander, thus he know how to act. I hope this process could be solved immediately. It’s tidak manusia,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Cenderawasih Regional Military Command Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Infantry Teguh Pudji earlier said the two military personnel currently are under investigation by Timika Military Police. (Arjuna Pademme/rom)
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8) Human Right Violations in Papua Continue Despite Jokowi’s Presidency
Says Papua Councilor
Jayapura, Jubi – Papua Councilor Wilhemus Pigai questioned the commitment of President Joko Widodo to develop Papua and settle cases of human rights violations as promised during the election campaign last year.
“When he was elected as president, series of human right violation cases were occurred in Papua, including Paniai Case on 8 December 2014, Yahukimo case, Dogiyai case, Tolikara incident and the recent shooting incident in Timika,” he said on Wednesday (2/9/2015).
According to him, in the last President Election, the majority people of Papua gave their vote to Jokowi with expectation he would more pay attention and provide justice for the people of Papua.
“At that time, Papuans were likely gave a message to Jokowi that they are also the Indonesian citizens who had less attention for long time, so they asked for it. Now, where is his promise to build Indonesia from Papua? What about his concern on human right violations in Papua,” he said.
“At that time, Papuans were likely gave a message to Jokowi that they are also the Indonesian citizens who had less attention for long time, so they asked for it. Now, where is his promise to build Indonesia from Papua? What about his concern on human right violations in Papua,” he said.
Regarding to Mimika shooting incident, he also asked the National Human Right Violation could immediately do investigation in Timika. Meanwhile, Papua Councilor Laurenzus Kadepa said a series of shooting incident toward indigenous Papuans seems depicting the five principles of Pancasila. “Pancasila is exempted in Papua. A series of shooting and murder towards indigenous Papuans in the name of the unity of Indonesia is a mistake. Military has a system command that soldiers follow the order from the chief. Those shooting must be done under the order. Paniai, Yahukimo, Dogiyai, Tolikara and Mimika. It’s a modus, part of a grand design. State must responsible on this,” he said at that time. (Jubi/Arjuna/rom)
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