1) VFWPA eyes protest against Indonesian recruitment in MSG
By Hilaire Bule 23 hrs ago
Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) has threatened to stage a peaceful demonstration if the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat in Port Vila pursues its plan to recruit Indonesians.
Amid Daily Post’s attempts over the last three days to get the confirmation of the recruitment of the Indonesians from the MSG Secretariat, a close source from the MSG told Daily Post that the issue was discussed last week at the MSG office. The source said that it is expected that the two Indonesians will commence work at the MSG Secretariat in March this year.
The Interim President of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Provisional Government, Benny Wenda, who is currently on Port Vila said it would be unfair for the MSG to recruit Indonesians who are not Melanesian to work at the MSG Secretariat.
The VFWPA said there are many consultants in the five MSG member countries — Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and the FLNKS of New Caledonia – to choose from and there is no need to recruit consultants from Indonesia.
Last Friday, the VFWPA and Mr. Wenda met to discuss the matter at the West Papua Office in Port Vila.
VFWPA Chairman Elder Job Dalesa and his members voiced their concerns, saying that they will stage a peaceful demonstration in front of the MSG Secretariat if the two Indonesians are recruited.
“This must never happen,” they said.
According to the VFWPA, the MSG has already made a big mistake when their leaders accepted Indonesia as an associated member of the MSG.
They reminded that Vanuatu as the MSG Chairman must remeber that the prime purpose to create a Melanesian bloc is to eradicate colonialism in Melanesia.
“Indonesia is still colonizing our Melanesian brothers in West Papua. Recruiting Indonesian consultants will defeat the cause to have the Melanesian bloc,” they said.
The group said if there is an initiative for the MSG Secretariat for Indonesian recruitment, it must be abandoned.
“We received information that two Indonesian consultants will commence work at the MSG Secretariat in March this year,” the VFWPA alleged.
Vanuatu’s support for West Papua has always been firm. A few years ago, some members of the VFWPA were arrested by the police at the Port Vila International Airport after picketing against the arrival of an army plane from Indonesia, which was delivering computers to be used during an international meeting at Le Lagon.
The VFWPA said Indonesia is a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which means it is Asian and not Melanesian.
Indonesia is a member of ASEAN alongside Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand in 1967.
Brunei Darussalam joined on 8 January 1984, Vietnam on 28 July 1995, Laos and Myanmar on 23 July 1997, and Cambodia on 30 April 1999.
West Papua Interim President Benny Wenda is back in Vanuatu to work in the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) office, as well as introduce himself to Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau’s newly installed Government, and “strategize” on the way forward regarding his Government’s mandate towards eventual sovereignty.
The Interim President intends to discuss ongoing issues in West Papua, which include human rights abuse, and internal displacement of at least 160,000 West Papuans by the Indonesian military while Jakarta continues to “pretend that nothing is happening in West Papua”.
“We are developing in Melanesia, but unfortunately we cannot develop on top of all the suffering in West Papua which is another Melanesian country,” he said.
“I look forward to meeting Vanuatu‘s new Government leaders to brief them on the realities happening in West Papua. For example in the last five years, almost 240 Melanesians died n West Papua.
“So far seven of our church pastors have been killed including the most well-known Pastor Sanabani — a Bible translator.
“Indonesian soldiers also target our children while women give birth in the bush. Nobody has any statistics because Indonesia has banned all journalists for almost fifty years now, from entering and reporting on what has been happening in our country.”
Comparing their situation with that of Russia’s war with Ukraine, he says television viewers are focused on their screens while no one really cares about what is happening in their next door neighbour of West Papua.
“We, the Melanesian countries call ourselves Christians but where is the Melanesian spirit of Christian brotherhood regarding West Papua?” he asks.
“We badly need Melanesian Good Samaritans and perhaps now is the right time to prove that level of responsible leadership.”
Vanuatu has pushed through the West Papua case at the South Pacific Forum as well as further abroad at the Asia Caribbean Pacific in Brussels.
Initially Indonesia agreed to allow a Human Rights Commissioner to visit West Papua but to date, Jakarta has not allowed the visit to take place.
“Meanwhile, killings of West Papuans in their own country continues. Last year, four young West Papuans were murdered and their bodies were mutilated like animals by six Indonesian soldiers,” Wenda said.
“It is my hope for Melanesian leaders to help us find a solution to the atrocities, which is good for Melanesians, West Papuans and even Indonesians themselves.
“Indonesia calls itself a democratic, vibrant country but Melanesian countries must unite to get West Papua out of its stranglehold or otherwise fifty years from now, West Papuans would become like what the Aborigines of Australia and Red Indians of North America have become — nobodies in their own countries,” he lamented.
After that he predicts that arriving like flies, Jakarta’s next target would be Papua New Guinea. Without zeroing on Muslims and Christians, he says Muslimisation is happening as he speaks. “While we in Melanesia say, ‘Yumi man ia’ but, where is the manhood?” he asked.
While the Melanesian Spearhead Group is in place to free the remaining Melanesian countries from colonial rule, he says West Papua has gone as far as being accepted to Observer Status in MSG, while ULMWP is pleading with MSG brother and sister member countries to approve its application for full membership, and doing everything within its Melanesian spirit to eject Indonesia from the strictly Melanesian Grouping.
Viktor Yeimo left in red shirt and hat with his legal counsel Emanuel Gobay while waiting for a hearing at Jayapura District Court 8211 JubiTheo Kelen
Jayapura, Jubi – International spokesperson of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) Viktor Yeimo, who is currently tried for alleged treason, complained about the condition of his detention room at Abepura Prison. He conveyed it during the reading of the Public Prosecutor’s response to his exception at the Jayapura District Court on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.
On February 21, 2021, the public prosecutor charged Viktor Yeimo with treason for his involvement in the Papuan anti-racism rally that turned into a mass rampage in Jayapura City on August 29, 2019. The public prosecutor charged four different articles, namely Article 106 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code (jointly committing treason with the intention to separate part and territory of the state), Article 110 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code (conspiring to commit treason), Article 110 paragraph (2) to 1 of the Criminal Code (attempting to move others to commit or participate in committing, or providing assistance at the time of committing, or providing opportunity, means or information to commit the crime of treason), Article 160 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) to 1 of the Criminal Code (orally or in writing inciting to commit a criminal act, violence against the public authority or disobeying either the provisions of the law or an official order given under the provisions of the law).
In Tuesday’s hearing, Yeimo’s legal team asked the panel of judges to give Yeimo the opportunity to convey the conditions of the cell where he was detained. Yeimo then explained that his detention room at Abepura Prison was cramped he could not straighten his legs when lying down and sleeping.
During sleep, he has to fold his legs in order to sleep. According to him, if it rains, rainwater will enter his detention room. “My detention room in Abepura prison is small, therefore I have to fold my legs to sleep. If it rains, rainwater enters the room,” Yeimo said.
Yeimo also complained about the absence of a bed in his cell. Yeimo, who has tuberculosis, is worried that his health will worsen if he sleeps without a bed.
“I sleep on a mattress on the floor. I’m worried that my lungs can’t stand it,” he said.
Yeimo said he had discussed the condition of his cell with the head of Abepura prison. “I hope they will consider a solution so that I don’t have to sleep without a bed,” he said.
In the hearing, Yeimo’s legal counsel, the Papua Law Enforcement and Human Rights Coalition said it had submitted a letter requesting that Viktor Yeimo’s detention status be transferred to city detention. Lawyer Emanuel Gobay said the letter was submitted on January 11, 2023 for the sake of their client’s health.
“I have submitted to the court a letter requesting a transfer of status to city detention. I hope the panel can consider it,” said Gobay.
However, Chief Judge Mathius said the panel of judges had not yet received the Coalition’s request. Mathius said the panel of judges would consider the matter after receiving the letter. He also asked the legal counsel to coordinate with the prosecutor regarding the condition of Viktor Yeimo’s detention room at Abepura prison.
After listening to complaints from Viktor Yeimo and the presentation of his legal counsel, the panel of judges adjourned the hearing until January 24, 2023. The next session will hear the reading of an interlocutory decision from the panel of judges on the defense counsel’s exception and response to the exception submitted by the prosecutor. (*)
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