2) American Samoan protests Indonesian hold of Papua
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1) Vanuatu wants Indonesia out
Posted: Wednesday, April 20, 2016 8:00 am
The incumbent Government led by Prime Minister Charlot Salwai wants to see the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) become a full fledged member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
Daily Post was informed this was part of Decision 57 of 2016 on the MSG in the Council of Minister’s (COM) 9th Ordinary meeting.
The COM endorsed the decision to instruct the government to include the ULMWP’s full MSG membership status as part of the agenda in the upcoming MSG Leaders Summit on May 6, 2016 which will take place in Port Vila and remove Indonesia as an Associate member of the MSG.
West Papua’s United Liberation Movement for West Papua was granted Observer Status whilst Indonesia was admitted as an Associate Member into MSG in 2015.
The ULMWP initially applied for full membership.
Meanwhile the COM also endorsed the decision not to accept the appointment of Fiji Diplomat Amena Yauvoli as the new Director General of the MSG Secretariat.
Ambassador Yauvoli signed his new contract of employment with the MSG Chair, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in Honiara on April 11, replacing Solomon Islands’ Mr Peter Forau who resigned in December 2015.
Vanuatu’s COM approved that Vanuatu’s seasoned diplomat, Ambassador Roy Mickey Joy who was nominated for the MSG top post and other candidates who applied to seek a full judicial review.
Most of the past and present leaders in Vanuatu have been staunch advocators for West Papua’s self-determination.
Amid pressure from the public, a former Prime Minister, Moana Carcasses, made a bold stand for self-determination for the people of West Papua and the Kanaks of New Caledonia at the MSG Leaders’ Summit in Noumea, 2013.
“We cannot have wool pulled over our faces and pretend that we are fine when those who are free know that the spirit within us desperately longs for freedom,” he was quoted to have said back then, acknowledging the existence of human rights violations and atrocities being committed against West Papuans as a people in their motherland whilst at the same time pointing out “how each of the MSG member countries treasured their relationship with Indonesia and wished to see this strengthen into maturity and how as a result of this respect for Indonesia as a friend, Indonesia was accepted as an observer in the MSG”.
At present, the member countries of the MSG are: Solomon Islands (Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare), Vanuatu (Prime Minister Charlot Salwai), Fiji (Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama), Papua New Guinea (Peter O’Neill), FLNKS Head representative (Mr. Victor Tutugoro), Indonesia as Associate Member (President Joko Widodo) and West Papua as Observer (ULMWP General Secretary Octavianus Mote).
As co-founding father of the MSG and Vanuatu’s first Prime Minister Fr. Walter Lini once said, “Vanuatu will not be fully free until all Melanesian are free”.
Indonesia has made it public that it has gained the support of Fiji and Papua New Guinea for its push for full membership in the MSG.
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2) American Samoan protests Indonesian hold of Papua
about 1 hour ago
Valerie Adams and her 7-year-old daughter demonstrating support for a "Free West Papua" to coincide with a visit to Pago Pago by the Indonesian Ambassador to the US. Photo: Monica Miller
An American Samoan has demonstrated her support for West Papuan independence during the territory's Flag Day ceremony at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pago Pago
Valerie Adams and her 7 year-old daughter displayed placards with the message "Free West Papua" to coincide with the visit by the Indonesian Ambassador to the US.
Budi Bowoleksono had been invited by the territorial government to attend Flag Day celebrations.
Ms Adams questioned why Jakarta has provided US$300,000 toward construction of the Pago Pago Youth Center.
"Because I'm not sure why we're inviting the Indonesian government. We get federal grants. So when they donated to help out with our centre, I'm questioning the motive. American Samoa government should not be affiliated with the Indonesian government at all," she said.
Valerie Adams claims West Papua is being forcibly occupied by Indonesia, and hopes that more people will learn about the situation.
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