Okctovianus Mote dari ULMWP (kanan) bersama delegasi Vanuatu di Pertemuan Regional Joint Parliamentary Assembly ke-14 ACP-EU di Port Vila, Vanuatu 19-21 Juli 2017 – gov.vu
Jayapura, Jubi – Vanuatu kembali menyerukan kepada negara-negara Africa, Caribbean, Pacific (ACP) dan European Union (EU) untuk memberikan dukungan terhadap Resolusi atas hak penentuan nasib sendiri West Papua dan perhatian terhadap pelanggaran HAM di wilayah rumpun Melanesia ini.
Di dalam pernyataan publik pemerintah Vanuatu yang dirilis situs resminya, Jumat (21/7/2017), Vanuatu mengajak para anggota parlemen ACP EU angkat bicara dan tunjukkan keprihatinan serta dukungannya atas hak-hak rakyat Papua, termasuk hak menentukan nasib sendiri dan bergabung dengan delapan negeri-negeri Kepulauan Pasifik lainnya demi keadilan dan penghormatan atas hak penentuan nasib sendiri itu.
Pertemuan regional ke-14 Majelis Gabungan Parlemen ACP-EU itu dilakukan di Port-Vila, Vanuatu sejak tanggal 19 Juli hingga 21 Juli lalu. Lebih dari 100 delegasi dari Uni Eropa dan negeri-negeri di Afrika, Karibia dan Pasifik dikabarkan hadir.
ACP-EU, menurut Vanuatu juga dapat meneruskan seruan dukungan tersebut ke badan-badan regional dan lintas pemerintahan global seperti Uni Afrika, CARICOM dan badan-badan regional dan sub-regional multilateral lainnya untuk membuat resolusi atas West Papua dan pembatasan perdagangan dengan Indonesia.
“Sebagai negara-negara anggota PBB, negeri-negeri di dalam ACP-EU dapat ikut memberi tekanan pada PBB agar melakukan referendum kembali di West Papua di bawah pengawasan internasional, atau setidaknya mendaftarkan West Papua sebagai sebuah wilayah tak berpemerintahan sendiri,” tulis pemerintah di dalam pernyataan tersebut.
Vanuatu juga meminta agar ACP-EU mendukung satu suara atas pengajuan resolusi West Papua pada pertemuan gabungan parlemen ACP-EU berikutnya bulan Oktober mendatang agar resolusi tersebut bisa diadopsi pada pertemuan Konsil Menteri-Menteri ACP di bulan November 2017.
Seruan Vanuatu tersebut juga ditujukan pada wakil parlemen masing-masing negara ACP-EU untuk mendorong pemerintahannya masing-masing menyuarakan isu West Papua di berbagia level multilateral.
Di dalam pernyataan tersebut Vanuatu mengangkat isu kejahatan terhadap kemanusiaan di West Papua yang memakan korban hingga ratusan ribu jiwa sejak aneksasi oleh Indonesia tahun 1963 dan memuncak di era kediktatoran Seeharto melalui berbagai operasi militer era 1970-an dan 1980-an.
“Otoritas negara Indonesia, para pemukim dari Indonesia dan perusahaan Indonesia pelan tapi pasti memegang kontrol atas semua aspek dan arena kehidupan orang Papua.
Indonesia mengklaim telah membangun West Papua, tetapi lupa pada fakta bahwa pembangunan itu terutama hanya menguntungkan orang-orang Indonesia dan bukan orang Papua,” tulis pemerintah.
Sebelumnya kepada Loop Vanuatu (21/7), Marco Mahe anggota parlemen Vanuatu mewakili wilayah konstituen Santo, mengatakan negeri-negeri ACP telah lebih dulu mendukung untuk mengangkat isu pelanggaran HAM di West Papua dalam pertemuan terpisah sebelum pembukaan pertemuan parlemen gabungan ACP-EU.
Dia katakan delegasi Vanuatu ada dua pertemuan pendahuluan sebelum acara pembukaan oleh Presiden Republik Vanuatu yang baru, Pastor Tallis Obed Moses.
Pertemuan pendahuluan ACP tersebut dipimpin oleh co-Presiden Majelis Gabungan Parlemen ACP-EU, Ibrahim R. Bundu. Turut hadir wakil West Papua, Octovianus Mote dari ULMWP.
Pertemuan gabungan parlemen EU-ACP ini memfokuskan pembicaraan pada isu perubahan iklim dan kemitraan Eropa dan Pasifik.
Isu West Papua tetap diangkat oleh Republik Vanuatu menyusul pernyataan senada oleh Pacific Islands Coalition for West Papua (PICWP) awal Mei lalu di hadapan Pertemuan Konsil Menteri-menteri 79 anggota ACP.
Waktu itu PICWP meminta ACP agar membuat resolusi akhir untuk menyatakan dukungan pada penentuan nasib sendiri West Papua di pertemuan Konsil November mendatang. (*)
Pada pertemuan yang berlangsung di Gedung Convension Center ini, selain Vanuatu, Marshal Islands menyatakan bahwa presidennya meminta negara negara ACP-EU segera mendukung kebijakkan Marshal mendukung perjuangan rakyat Papua Barat ke PBB. Wakil PNG mendesak pemerintah Belanda dan negara negara anggota EU harus bertanggung jawab terlibat langsung dalam masalah Papua Barat.
Utusan khusus Samoa menguslkan agar nemua negara anggota PIF segera mengeluarkan resolusi saat meeting di Samoa 6 September 2017 dengan sasaran utama membawa masalah Papua langsung ke PBB. Sedangkan wakil Portugal menjelaskan bahwa Perjuangan Papua identik dgn Timor Leste sehingga ACP-EU sudah ada gambaran jelas tentang masalah Papua Barat yang patut diselesaikan lewat prinsip PBB yg telah dilalui oleh Timor Leste terhadap Indonesia selaku regim penjajah asing di Timor Leste dan juga terhadap Papua Barat.
Isu West Papua akan menjadi satu bagian resolusi pertemuan ini.
Vanuatu seruhkan acp-EU makes a resolution about West Papua. Vanuatu requested:
– the parliament of acp-EU can voice their concerns and they can support Papua Rights, including the rights of the self-determination – as diseruhkan 8 Pacific countries for justice and respect to the right to determination.
– they can get the bodies between regional and global governments like the African Union, CARICOM and regional multilateral and other regional sub to provide resolution and limit commercial relationships and others with Indonesia.
– as a country member of the un-Country State of acp-EU can demand an international referendum (or at least re-registered to the territory without a government-Decolonization).
– support with one of the proposed resolution of the resolution-EU parliamentary meeting in October and also resolution about West Papua to be adopted at the council’s council meeting in November 2017.
– URGENT MEMBER OF THE ACP-EU Parliament to urgent governments to handle West Papua problems at multilateral level and help indonesia complete 54 years of this crisis.
– Parlemen-Parlemen ACP-EU dapat menyuarakan keprihatinan mereka dan mereka dapat mendukung hak Papua, termasuk hak penentuan nasib sendiri – sebagaimana diseruhkan 8 negara Pasifik untuk keadilan dan penghormatan terhadap hak untuk penentuan nasib sendiri.
– Mereka bisa mendapatkan badan antar pemerintah regional dan global seperti Uni Afrika, CARICOM dan badan multilateral regional dan sub regional lainnya untuk memberikan resolusi dan membatasi hubungan komersial dan lainnya dengan Indonesia.
– Sebagai negara anggota negara PBB ACP -EU dapat menuntut referendum yang diawasi secara internasional (atau setidaknya kembali didaftarkan pada teritori tanpa pemerintahan -dekolonisasi).
– Dukungan dengan satu suara resolusi yang diusulkan dalam pertemuan parlemen gabungan ACP-UE mendatang pada bulan Oktober dan juga resolusi tentang Papua Barat untuk diadopsi pada pertemuan Dewan Menteri ACP pada bulan November 2017.
– Mendesak Anggota Parlemen ACP-UE untuk mendesak pemerintah masing-masing untuk menangani masalah Papua Barat di tingkat multilateral dan membantu Indonesia menyelesaikan 54 tahun krisis ini.
Even though the delegation of West Papua arrived late today at the ACP-EU 14th regional meeting, ACP member countries have agreed to raise the issue of human rights violation in West Papua. West Papua is not member of ACP but member countries said that West Papua is member of Pacific countries.
Member of Parliament of Santo constituency, Marco Mahe said that the ACP countries have endorsed the issue of violation of human rights in West Papua during their separate meeting this before the official opening of regional meeting of the joint ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.
Mr Mahe said the issue of human rights violation in West Papua cannot be tolerated. He said that Vanuatu delegation at the meeting have agreed that the leader of the opposition Ishmael Kalsakau will stand in front of the assembly on their behave.This morning there was two separate meetings before the official opening by the President of the Republic of Vanuatu, Pastor John Tallis Obed. The ACP separate meeting was chaired by the ACP Parliamentary Assembly and co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly, Ibrahim R.Bundu. West Papua is represented at the meeting by Mote Octavianus.Ibrahim R.Bunda and Marco Mahé
Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama closing UN Oceans Conference… “Paris Agreement not enough to save us”. Image: The Ocean Conference
Current national contributions by countries to the Paris Agreement on climate change are not enough to save the Pacific, says Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
“We have to try to persuade the rest of the world to embrace even more ambitious action in the years to come, because we all know that even the current national contributions to the Paris Agreement are not enough to save us,”
he said, addressing Pacific leaders as the UN Oceans Conference came to a close in New York last week.
As the incoming president of COP23, Bainimarama called on the Pacific and its leaders to stand by him and demand decisive action, as climate change was an issue of critical importance to the region’s collective future.
“I want your input. I need your input. And I want every Pacific leader beside me as we demand decisive action to protect the security of our people and those in other vulnerable parts of the world.”
Bainimarama also outlined his worry that America’s decision to abandon the Paris Agreement may also encourage other nations to either back away from the commitments they have made or not implement them with the same resolve.
“We are all, quite naturally, bitterly disappointed by the decision of the Trump Administration to abandon the Paris Agreement,” he said.
“Not only because of the loss of American leadership on this issue of critical importance to the whole world, but because it may also encourage other nations to either back away from the commitments they have made or not implement them with the same resolve.
“But something wonderful is also happening. The American decision is galvanising opinion around the world in support of decisive climate action.
‘Widespread rebellion’ “Other nations and blocs like China, the European Union and India are stepping forward to assume the leadership that Donald Trump has abandoned. And within America itself, there is a widespread rebellion against the decision the President has taken.”
Bainimarama said dozens of American state governors and city mayors were banding together with leaders of the private sector, civil society and ordinary citizens to redouble their efforts to meet this challenge.
“So while the Trump Administration may have abandoned its leadership on climate change, the American people haven’t.
“Next week, I will go to California to meet the Democrat Governor Jerry Brown and sign up to the climate action initiative that he is spearheading. I am also in contact with his Republican predecessor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, who shares Governor Brown’s commitment.
“The point is that on both sides of American politics, we have friends who are standing with us in this struggle. And I am inviting both Governor Brown and the famous ‘Terminator’ to come to our pre-COP gathering in Fiji in October, where we hope they will join us in a gesture of solidarity with the vulnerable just before COP23 itself in Bonn the following month.”
The Paris Agreement, which Fiji has ratified, sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
Four New Caledonian anti-independence parties have agreed to a joint declaration of unity ahead of this weekend’s run-off election of a new French National Assembly.They call to work for a New Caledonia that stays with France and lives in peace.
This comes amid worsening rifts within the anti-independence camp which have been exacerbated by the election campaign.
An unsuccessful candidate and former president Harold Martin said in this weekend’s run-off, voters should choose the pro-independence candidate Louis Mapou over Philippe Gomes, who is the most prominent anti-independence politician and the incumbent in the Paris seat.
The local National Front chapter also urged voters not to vote for Mr Gomes.
A senior member of the Republicans Gael Yanno said unless there is a change the loyalist camp will end up destroying itself.
The declaration said there is a need to prepare for a future within France as the independence referendum is due next year while there is huge change of the political landscape in France.
The sudden rise of the Emmanuel Macron-led movement has removed all French veteran leaders who had been involved in the decolonisation process outlined in the 1998 Noumea Accord.
Full support … West Papuan Independence leader Benny Wenda (in red shirt) holds the banned West Papuan Morning Star flag with key supporter Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare during his visit last year. Image: bennywenda.org
News coverage of the alleged genocide is extremely difficult because of the restrictions on local and foreign media.
Some West Papuan journalists have also died in their effort to tell the truth about the deaths that largely occur in remote rural areas.
This makes news coverage of the alleged atrocities in the Indonesia-occupied land extremely difficult.
West Papuan independence leader Benny Wenda, in an online interview, told Wansolwara the restrictions allowed for the atrocities to remain “silenced”.
And even if access was granted after the labyrinthine effort, “journalists cannot go freely to report on politics in West Papua,” he said.
“They will get followed and questioned by Indonesian intelligence and West Papuans will suffer intimidation and threats if they speak to journalists.”
Recent prominence
Papua New Guinea Media Council president Alexander Rheeney said West Papua’s struggle of more than 50 years had only been given prominence in the region’s mainstream media in recent years.
Papua New Guinean journalist Alexander Rheeney, who is also president of the PNG Media Council. Image: PNG Media Council
Less than 10 years ago, the mainstream news media – in neighbouring countries like Fiji, Australia and New Zealand, ignored the situation in West Papua. It was effectively a media “black hole”.
Rheeney said it was more challenging for Pacific journalists whose governments recognised the sovereignty Indonesia had over West Papua.
“The media in PNG have reported on West Papua and all the human rights abuses but not as much as we would want it to despite the fact that PNG and West Papua share a land order,” he said.
The increasing coverage by Pacific news media should be commended, said journalism educator Professor David Robie.
Professor David Robie speaking at the Free Media in West Papua seminar in Jakarta, Indonesia, last month. Image: Alves Fonataba/PMC
Dr Robie, director of the Auckland-based Pacific Media Centre, who has regularly written and published news on West Papua’s struggle for more than three decades, said it was a huge relief that the Pacific was “finally waking up to the issue of West Papua”.
“This an issue of Melanesian solidarity, Pacific solidarity – an issue of self-determination, and the Pacific countries that got independence on a plate ought to be telling this story,”
He spoke along with Indonesian and Papuan human rights activists and Tabloid Jubi editor Victor Mambor of Jayapura.
Pacific Freedom Forum editor Jason Brown said it was an utter disgrace that some in mainstream media published or broadcast stories on wars from other regions and “not in our own backyard”.
“In recent years, RNZI has done a much better job of covering West Papua. The recent closure of shortwave services by Radio Australia, however, means that the region has lost reliable access to news on West Papua from that source,” said Brown.
Rheeney warned that the region could not afford to fail fellow Pacific Islanders of West Papua.
He said to do so would be to doom the Pacific region to more instability.
“If a prosperous Pacific region is to be ensured, the issue of West Papua must be addressed,” he said.
Timor-Leste lessons
“As journalists we can no longer continue to turn a blind eye on all the human rights abuses that is happening.
“The PNG government can no longer turn a blind eye on what is happening on the other side of the border.”
Dr Robie said that informed political decisions could not be reached if the news media were not allowed to report freely on West Papua.
He said this lesson could easily be drawn from East-Timor’s road to independence.
East Timor, which was also occupied by Indonesia in 1975, secured its independence after a handful of journalists exposed the human rights violations through video smuggled out of the Indonesian-ruled territory, especially after the Santa Cruz massacre in the capital Dili in 1991.
Indonesia’s control rapidly fell apart after international pressure.
“In-depth and timely media coverage will save lives as West Papua lurches towards independence — which will come eventually — no matter how hard Jakarta tries to block this,” said Dr Robie.
Rheeney is also optimistic. He said Pacific journalists should continue to report on the issue, to keep the struggle in the news so that lasting solutions were found sooner and more bloodshed is prevented.
Vilimaina Naqelevuki is a final year journalism student with the USP Journalism Programme. Naqelevuki is pursuing a double major in journalism and politics, and is pictures editor of Wansolwara, the student news publication produced by the Journalism Programme.
Calon PM Papua Nugini, Ben Micah (Foto: Pacific Energy Summit)
PORT MORESBY, SATUHARAPAN.COM – Salah seorang calon perdana menteri Papua Nugini, Ben Micah dari Partai Rakyat Progresif (PPP), memastikan akan menjadikan isu Papua sebagai prioritasnya bila terpilih jadi perdana menteri.
Ia mengatakan akan menjadikan Indonesia sebagai negara yang pertama ia kunjungi dan akan duduk empat mata dengan Presiden Joko Widodo untuk membicarakan apa yang diinginkan oleh rakyat Papua.
“Saya akan duduk dengan presiden Indonesia dan saya akan berusaha mencapai kesepakatan bersama untuk mendapatkan konsensus tentang apa isu yang paling penting bagi rakyat di bagian barat pulau besar kita,” kata Micah, dikutip dari postcourir.com.pg.
“Saya akan duduk dengan presiden Indonesia berhadap-hadapan. Negara pertama yang saya kunjungi bila saya jadi perdana menteri adalah Indonesia, bukan Australia, karena isu ini,” kata Micah, yang merupakan anggota parlemen mewakili daerah Kavieng.
“Kita harus memecahkan masalah ini dengan cara dimana kedua negara senang untuk mencapai kesepakatan bersama tentang hak rakyat kita yang hidup di bagian barat pulau kita, membicarakan apa yang mereka inginkan,” kata mantan menteri perusahaan publik Papua Nugini tersebut.
Micah menolak mengungkapkan apa agenda yang akan dia bicarakan, tetapi menegaskan bahwa ia memiliki beberapa sikap yang kuat.
“Saya tidak akan memberitahu apa yang mereka (rakyat Papua) inginkan. Terserah kepada mereka untuk mengatakannya dan pemerintah Indonesia dan Papua Nugini harus mendengarkan mereka dan mencapai kesepakatan bersama ke depan.”
“Saya akan mengumumkan bersama-sama dengan presiden (Indonesia) apa yang kami capai dan saya memiliki beberapa sikap yang saat ini tidak dapat saya beritahu,” kata Micah.
A lifelong campaigner for a free and independent West Papua has issued a stark warning to New Zealand politicians as he visits the country this week.
Benny Wenda with wantok students at the Auckland University of Technology this week. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
Benny Wenda, a tribal chief of West Papua exiled to the United Kingdom by Indonesia, told Asia Pacific Report that time was running out for West Papua if governments such as New Zealand do not act.
“If we live with Indonesia for another 50 years, we will not be safe. We will not be safe with Indonesia.”
He said the purpose of his visit to New Zealand was to highlight the importance of West Papua returning to its Melanesian family.
“We really need Pacific Islanders, our sisters and brothers across the Pacific – particularly New Zealand and Australia – to bring West Papua back to its Pacific family. Then we can survive. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to survive with Indonesia,” he said.
Since Indonesia took over West Papua following a controversial Act of Free Choice – dubbed by critics as an “Act of no choice” – in 1969, Wenda said his people had suffered.
“Everyday someone is dead, or has been killed, and someone has been stabbed, but no one is brought to justice.”
Human rights violations
In its rush to claim former Dutch colonies in the Asia-Pacific region following West Papua’s self-declared independence from the Netherlands in late 1961, Indonesia has subjected West Papua to continued human rights violations.
Many West Papuans have been imprisoned for non-violent expressions of their political views and widespread allegations of torture have been consistently made against Indonesian authorities.
Raising West Papua’s flag – the Morning Star – can incur 15 years in prison.
Wenda, the 42-year-old founder of the Free West Papua Campaign, has himself been imprisoned, accused of inciting an attack on a police station — despite the fact he was not even in the country at the time.
With foreign media all but denied access to West Papua – despite apparent lifting of restrictions by President Joko Widodo in 2015 – much of Indonesia’s atrocities remain secret, hidden.
It is for these very reasons, Wenda said, that West Papua was fighting.
“We are fighting for our independence, but we are also fighting for our land, our forest, our mountains.”
“Lifelong” Free West Papua advocate Benny Wenda says New Zealand support is integral to the global campaign. Image: Kendall Hutt/PMC
New Zealand support sought Wenda is calling for the New Zealand government’s integral commitment to the campaign for a free West Papua.
He said this was because New Zealand had a duty, as a part of the Pacific, to raise awareness of the atrocities in West Papua.
“West Papua is a very close neighbour, so that’s why I hope the New Zealand government will speak more about the human rights situation in West Papua.”
Wenda said it was high time for New Zealand to pull away from its business, trade and investment focus with Indonesia and speak about Indonesia’s human rights abuses.
New Zealand “needs to do more” as a country, he said, because New Zealand is a country which is meant to value human rights, respect the rule of law, freedom of speech and the right to self-determination in other parts of the world.
It is therefore time for New Zealand’s foreign policy on West Papua to change.
“West Papua’s hope is Australia and New Zealand. This is a regional issue, this will never go away from your eyes and this is something you need to look at today. Review your foreign policy and look at West Papua.”
‘We are the gatekeepers’
“Australia and New Zealand need West Papua. We are the gatekeepers, and for security reasons, West Papua is very important,” Wenda said.
Catherine Delahunty, a Green Party MP who has campaigned strongly for West Papua on New Zealand’s political front, echoed Wenda’s views.
“They are insistent – the New Zealand government – that West Papua is part of the territorial integrity of Indonesia, so we can’t get past that critical issue.”
She said she therefore did not have much faith in the current government to step up and was looking for future leadership, such as through the Labour-Greens alliance, to move the campaign for West Papuan self-determination forward on the home front.
AUT doctoral student Stephanie Sageo-Tupungu of Papua New Guinea makes a presentation to Benny Wenda on behalf of the Pacific Media Centre. Image: Kendall Hutt/PMC
“I really do think we need a different government that actually has some fundamental commitment to human rights over and above trade and being part of the US military complex around the world. We have to have change to get change. It’s not going to happen through these guys.”
In her eight years in Parliament, Delahunty said the situation in West Papua was the toughest she had had to face.
“This issue, for me, has been one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever worked on. It’s been one of the most horrible and one of the most powerful examples of the cynical use of power and the way in which people can just completely close their eyes.”
Mainstream media role
Both Wenda and Delahunty said in light of the resounding silence surrounding West Papuan media freedom during Indonesia’s hosting of World Press Freedom Day last week that raising awareness of West Papua was key for the world to finding out about the atrocities there.
The mainstream media had a large role to play in this, both acknowledged.
“West Papua really needs the media in terms of the publicity. Media publicity is very important,” Wenda said.
Wenda said it was time for New Zealand’s mainstream to pick up the baton from smaller, independent news agencies and carry stories of West Papua’s atrocities themselves.
“I really hope the mainstream media here carries this. It’s very important. We need more mainstream media. They really need to pick up on this issue.”
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has reported that it was not unusual for both local and foreign journalists in West Papua to be threatened anonymously or by authorities. Data by the Alliance for Independent Journalists (AJI) has revealed there has been an increase in the number of assaults on journalists in the region over the past two years.
There were 78 violent attacks on journalists in 2016, up from 42 attacks in 2015 and 40 in 2014.
The AJI found only a few attackers from those 78 attacks had been brought to justice.
‘Everything swept under the carpet’ Wenda said there was deep-seated inaction on Indonesia’s part because of its prejudice in prosecuting people who have attacked and tortured and beaten both West Papuans and also West Papuan journalists.
“Indonesia is getting away with impunity. Nobody is brought to justice. Everything is swept under the carpet.”
Delahunty reflected, however, that the world was seeing the lack of free and frank reporting play out in West Papua.
“We see the consequences of nearly fifty years of no honesty about West Papua and it’s just up the road. It breaks my heart, but it also fires me up because I really believe there are some very, very brave young people, including journalists, who are committed to this issue and I guess it’s that thing: if you have a voice, use it.”
Wenda highlighted a “united” Pacific was key in raising awareness of the “Melanesian genocide” occurring in West Papua.
Benny Wendy with wantok students…representing a “united” Pacific for West Papua. Image: Del Abcede/PMC
‘United’ Pacific key
He called on his “brothers and sisters”, but was deeply thankful of the support given already by several Pacific nations for West Papua’s cause.
These nations raised grave concerns regarding human rights violations in West Papua at the 34th session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council in March.
Recent declarations by both the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu were also acknowledged by Wenda.
“We cried for 50 years, but then these countries sacrificed to take on this issue.”
Wenda told the Solomon Islanders and the people of Vanuatu gathered they should “be proud” and that their action was something to “take away in your head and heart”.
Wenda also told the remainder of his audience it was “ordinary people” and “mostly young generations” who were needed to continue the fight, with social media being their greatest tool.
Delahunty added people power and the growing solidarity movement across the globe were also central.
“The only way they’ll speak and respond to this issue at all is if we have growing public pressure and that’s the job of all of us, both inside parliament and outside parliament to raise the issue and to make it something people will feel accountable for, otherwise we just ignore the plight of our neighbours and the killing, torture, environmental desecration and human rights abuses continue.”
Wenda and Delahunty both closed their interviews with a clear message for Indonesia: “Start talking, start listening, and stop thinking that you can ever brow beat people into the dust because you want their resources because in the end, the human spirit doesn’t work like that and these people will never give up. It’s up to us to support them.”
Kendall Hutt is contributing editor of Pacific Media Watch.
Free West Papua advocate Benny Wenda presents Pacific Media Centre Professor David Robie with a traditional “bilum” for his journalism about West Papuan freedom. Image: Kendall Hutt/PMC
International support for West Papuan self-determination cause is growing, according to a Papuan independence leader.
Benny Wenda is in New Zealand this week, raising awareness about the Indonesian-administered region of Papua, or West Papua, which he fled in 2003.
New Zealand MPs pose with the West Papua Freedom Movement’s Benny Wenda after signing the International Parliamentarians for West Papua Declaration.
Last night in Wellington he addressed a group of MPs, after which eleven members signed a declaration by the International Parliamentarians for West Papua.
This international organisation of MPs is calling for an internationally supervised self-determination vote in Papua.
Mr Wenda said momentum was being driven by the Pacific Coalition on West Papua, chaired by the Solomon Islands prime minister Manasseh Sogavare.
New Zealand MPs sign the International Parliamentarians for West Papua declaration as Benny Wenda the head of the West Papua Freedom Movement looks on. Wellington 10-05-2017. Photo: RNZI/ Koroi Hawkins
“So the Manasseh Sogavare leadership is bringing a big impact on the West Papua issue. And the seven countries (of the coalition) I joined. It is bringing the West Papua case in United Nations level,” he said.
“So this is a big thing to change now. So we also got support from African, Carribean and the Pacific. So this is a growing number and solidarity around the world.”
Mr Wenda said West Papuans as a people had been through many grave challenges in the last five decades of Indonesian rule, but that they remained ever hopeful.
A growing solidarity network in the Pacific was giving them hope.
“The parliamentarians today…. Catherine Delahunty (New Zealand Green Party MP) lead a lot of MPs, bringing them in to sign their support.
“This is the best medicine, I think, for the people of West Papua. That’s why their spirit is alive even (though) they’re suffering under the Indonesian illegal occupation.”
New Zealand MPs pose with the West Papua Freedom Movement’s Benny Wenda after signing the International Parliamentarians for West Papua Declaration.
According to Mr Wenda, West Papuans were united under the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
Indonesian government officials have characterised the Liberation Movement as a group of Papuans living abroad which lacks legitimacy to represent Papuans.
Mr Wenda dismissed this, pointing out that the leadership of the Liberation Movement is based both in and, out of necessity, outside Papua.
West Papuan grassroots support for the organisation within Papua was massive, he said.
