Saturday, July 1, 2023

1) Vanuatu – West Papua – MSG: An epic saga of messianic hope, betrayal, tragedy and resurrection



2) Is it time that Melanesian leaders allow West Papua to sit at the MSG table?
3) OPM denies asking for money after police offer to pay ransom for NZ pilot
4)  AMP and FRI-WP held a demonstration to commemorate 52 years of independence for the Papuan people
5) Commemorating July 1, TPNPB Kodap Emas Topo Holds the Morning Star Raising Ceremony
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1) Vanuatu – West Papua – MSG: An epic saga of messianic hope, betrayal, tragedy and resurrection
July 1, 2023 0 72 




An Eastern Star cartoon paying tribute to Vanuatu's support for West Papuan self-determination aspirations. Image: Free West Papua Movement



SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya 

The name Vanuatu has taken on a sacred significance in Papuan liberation consciousness.

The Free Papua Movement (OPM) elders ignited this consciousness after the declaration of West Papua’s independence on 1 July 1971.

The declaration was an act of revolution to reclaim Papuan sovereignty, stolen by Indonesia.

General Seth Rumkorem and Jacob Prai declared it, defended it, and received official recognition. Dakar, Senegal, was among them, the first international diplomatic office opened by OPM shortly after the declaration.

As Papuans resisted the invasion, they sought refuge in the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Sweden, Australia, and Greece. All joined, at least in spirit, under the name OPM.

Its spirit of revolution that bonded West Papua and Vanuatu with those across Europe, Oceania, and Africa. This was a time of decolonisation, revolution, and a Cold War.

The decolonisation movement back then was more conscious in heart and mind of humanity than now.

Rex Rumakiek’s ‘sacred connection’
Rex Rumakiek (now aged 78), a long time OPM fighter alongside others, established this sacred connection in 1978.

In Papua New Guinea, Rumakiek met with students from Vanuatu studying at the University of Papua New Guinea and shared the OPM’s revolutionary victory, tragedy, and solution.

These students later took prominent roles in the formation of the independent state of Vanuatu — became part of the solution — laid a foundation of hope.

A common spirit emerged between the OPM’s resistance to Indonesian colonisation and Vanuatu’s struggle for freedom from long-term European (French and English) confederation rule.

A brutal system of dual rule known as Condominium — critics called it “Pandemonium” (chaos and disorder).

West Papua, a land known as “little heaven” is indeed like a Garden of Eden in Milton’s epic Paradise Lost poem.

To restore freedom and justice to that betrayed, lost paradise was the foundation of Vanuatu and West Papua’s relationship. For more than 40 years Vanuatu has been a beacon of hope………………………...


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Solomon Star 1st July

2) Is it time that Melanesian leaders allow West Papua to sit at the MSG table?


IN anticipation of the upcoming Melanesian Spearhead Group Leader’s Summit in Vanuatu this month, there is a growing call for West Papua to be granted full membership in the organisation.

“The summit is set to be held in July in Port Vila, Vanuatu, which is expected to bring together leaders from Melanesian countries and territories to discuss regional cooperation and address challenges in the sub-region,” West Papuan global campaigner, Raki Ap said.

Mr Ap, who is currently in Solomon Islands, meeting with fellow campaigners and the Solomon Islands Solidarity group for West Papua, remarked that the Melanesian Spearhead Group was founded by Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Vanuatu with the goal of promoting decolonisation and freedom for Melanesian countries and territories in the South Pacific.

He said this is a key value and principle in which current MSG leaders should revisit and use as their sole guide to deliberate on the application of West Papuans.

The forum currently has five full members – Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, PNG, Fiji and the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front of New Caledonia (FLNKS) along with one associate member, Indonesia and two observers, East Timor and West Papua.

Mr Ap said representing West Papua in the forum is Indonesia and the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), a political organisation mandated by the indigenous people of West Papua with the purpose of uniting the factions in West Papua.

He added that both camps have however disputed each other’s legitimacy and argue over who truly represents the interests of West Papuans.

Indonesia asserts that its 13 million Melanesian residents gave it the right to represent West Papua in the MSG, whilst West Papuans argue that Indonesia prioritises its own political and economic interests over those of the local population.

Currently, Indonesia holds associate membership in the MSG, granting it limited participation and influence, whilst the ULMWP only has observer status, preventing it from effectively raising concerns about human rights violations and development needs in West Papua.

Meanwhile, Ap highlighted that ULMWP has submitted applications for full membership in 2013 and 2015 but those applications were unsuccessful.

He said the decision on membership rests with the full members of the MSG and consensus amongst the leaders is required, adding that in the past, divisions amongst forum members have hindered West Papua’s bid for full membership.

Nevertheless, Mr Ap revealed that there are signs of increasing support for West Papua’s membership through ULMWP.

The Campaigner for a free West Papua went on to add that, “Encouragingly, Vanuatu, the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front, and recently Fiji’s newly elected Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, have all indicated their support. The decisive decision may lie with Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.”

As the International Spokesperson for the Free West Papua Campaign and the Green State Vision, Mr Ap is currently on a speaking tour in the Pacific to raise awareness about the ongoing human rights violations and the environmental crisis in West Papua.

Mr Ap, whose father was assassinated by the Indonesian military, emphasises the importance of West Papua’s full membership in the MSG.

He stressed that the upcoming Melanesian Leader’s Summit will be a crucial one as it will also determine whether West Papua will finally be granted full membership and be allowed to sit at the table with other full MSG members as equals.

“The eyes of Melanesia and the world are on the summit, awaiting the decision of the leaders,” he added.

– SI Solidarity Group for West Papua


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3) OPM denies asking for money after police offer to pay ransom for NZ pilot
CNN Indonesia – June 30, 2023

Jakarta – West Papua National Liberation Army-Free Papua Organisation (TPNPB-OPM) or KKB (armed criminal group) spokesperson Sebby Sambom claims that they have not asked for a ransom to be paid for the release Susi Air pilot Mark Mehrtens, who has been held hostage since February.

This was conveyed by Sambom in response to a statement by the Papua regional police (Polda) that they would only agree to a request to pay a random for Mehrtens’ release.

“We are not criminals and are not asking for money”, said Sambom in an SMS message on Friday June 30.

Sambom said that one of their demands is that the government must acknowledge the existence of the struggle by the TPNPB, which is demanding Papuan independence.

“That our demand is very clear, namely that the Indonesian government must acknowledge the existence of the struggle by the TPNPB which is demanding the right to independence for the Papuan nation”, he said.

Mehrtens has been held hostage by KKB leader Egianus Kogoya since February after he landed his aircraft at the Paro landing strip in Nduga regency in the Papua highlands.

Yesterday the Papau regional police emphasised that they would not provide arms or independence to the KKB in return for the release of the New Zealand pilot.

Papua regional police chief Inspector General Mathius Fakhiri said that they would only agree to pay a ransom to the KKB, which they would send in return for Mehrtens’ release.

“It would be impossible for us to agree with those two requests (independence and weapons). But for the money that has also been requested it will be prepared and handed over to Egianus Kogoya providing that the hostage who is a New Zealand national is released and handed over to security forces”, said Fakhiri in Jayapura on Thursday June 29 as quoted by the state-own news agency Antara.

Fakhiri said that negotiations on Mehrtens’ release are continuing and that the police have involved Kogoya’s family in the talks. They hope that the family can lobby Kogoya to release Mehrtens.

“We hope that Egianus will not carry out his threat, namely to shoot the Susi Air pilot on July 1”, he said. (yoa/ain)

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Polisi Siap Tebus, KKB Papua Bantah Minta Uang untuk Pilot Susi Air".]

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/nasional/20230630124606-12-968038/polisi-siap-tebus-kkb-papua-bantah-minta-uang-untuk-pilot-susi-air


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A google translate.
Original Bahasa link

News Desk - Kemerdekaan Bangsa Papua, July 1
2023
4)  AMP and FRI-WP held a demonstration to commemorate 52 years of independence for the Papuan people


Jayapura, Jubi – Dozens of students from the Papuan Student Alliance or AMP and the Indonesian People's Front for West Papua or FRI-WP held an action to commemorate the 52nd Years of Independence Day of the Papuan Nation in Malang City, East Java Province, on Saturday (1/7/2023 ).

The demonstration started at 7:00 a.m. and was held at several points, namely at Malang Gajayana Stadium, Bank BCA Malang crossroad and ended at Malang City Police. The action was attended by around 66 students ending at 12.35 WIB.

The demonstrators carried a number of banners with the Morning Star motif and pamphlets reading "Give Self-Determination to the Papuan Nation as a Democratic Solution, Immediately Revoke Special Autonomy Volume 2". The demonstrators also carried a piece of the Morning Star flag motif.

The person in charge of the action, Meyron Yikwa, stated that today was a historic day for the struggle for independence for the people of West Papua which had been driven by movement pioneers since the 1960s. Yikwa stated that until now this struggle will be continued by the Papuan generation.

"For the sake of fighting for and seizing the true sovereignty of the Papuan people," Yikwa told the jubi via the WhatsApp message service, on Saturday (1/7/2023) evening.

Yikwa stated that until now the Papuan people continue to live in terror and intimidation. Yikwa stated that the Government of Indonesia through the TNI/POLRI continues to commit violence against the people of Papua.

"The TNI-POLRI [allegedly continue] to practice [and carry out] acts of [violence to] killing the Papuan people [which] started in 1960," he said.

Yikwa stated that the condition of human rights in Papua is very concerned. Yikwa stated that the Papuan people would continue to fight for their independence as stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Civil and Political Rights which was announced by the United Nations in December 1948.

"The Papuan people have continued to struggle until now [to achieve] the right to self-determination as a democratic solution," he said.(*)

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A google translate.
Original Bahasa link



5) Commemorating July 1, TPNPB Kodap Emas Topo Holds the Morning Star Raising Ceremony

News Desk - Kemerdekaan Bangsa Papua, July 1
2023
Nabire, Jubi - The Gold Topo Defense Regional Command (KODAP), Nabire, has held a ceremony to raise the Morning Star flag on the day of the proclamation of independence for West Papua on July 1 1971-July 1 2023 at the Nabire Topo Gold Command Headquarters.

This was conveyed by the Commander of the Regional Defense Command (Pangkodap), Brigadier General (Brigjen) Daud Nawipa, to Jubi via his cell phone connection, Saturday (1/7/2023).

Nawipa said that the commemoration ceremony for the July 1 1971 Proclamation at the Victoria Headquarters was held with a short ceremony and the raising of the morning star. At this moment TPNPB invites all parties to maintain unity towards the independence of the nation of West Papua.
"So July 1, 1971 is the day of the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of West Papua which is recognized by the components of the Papuan people, therefore we must maintain unity and integrity to win the independence of the Papuan people," he said.

Nawipa said the West Papua National Liberation Army and the Free Papua Organization (TPN-PB/OPM) reject all forms of illegal investment activity in Papuan land.

"We TPNPB officially reject PT, projects including the illegal mining of the PT Block Wabu which are being planned or which have damaged natural resources (SDA) by the Indonesian government in the territory of the nation of West Papua," he said.

Nawipa continued that the TPN-PB OPM would declare a total revolutionary war. So the Indonesian/non-Papuan people in the West Papua territory should immediately vacate Papuan land, especially in Nabire Regency.

"We will expel the colonial package from the TNI/POLRI and non-Papuans to a total revolution until the independence of the West Papuan nation falls into our hands," he said. (*)

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