In the morning of Thursday, March 2, 10`7, I woke up from my sleep, wandering why this morning, the birds and other beings on the ground, were making a lot and a lot of noise, not as usual. I was also visited by many guests during my sleep: all troops who dies in the fight against Indonesia came, having a big party all night; including my younger brothers the Late Gen. Kelly Kwalik and Brig. Gen. Hans Bomay were there.
I wanted to talk to them, but they all just waved and said, “celebrate, celebrate, celebrate, ….. so many times.”
When I reconnect back to the morning dancing and singing I was having in the West Papua Revolutionary Army (WPRA) Central Headquarters in the Jungle Of New Guinea this morning, I am then told that “We are also telling you, “celebrate, celebrate, celebrate…”
I did not wait, I went out and sing songs, dancing and singing and dancing for some 30 minutes, until all other troops woke up. Most of them joined into my songs, others were confused. They thought, “How come this old man is now drunk? He is a priest, carries the Bible on the right hand, and his gun on the left hand, but now he is drunk?” They thought “No, he is not drunk”.
I praise you the Lord, Almighty God, for your creation of this New Guinea Island, for the people of Melanesia, for our culture, for wisdom and understanding that you gave us, that make us unique in this planet Earth, that glorify your own power and presence. Today I praise you the Lord, for what you have done to me and to my struggle to free my people from the colonialism of Indonesia.
You have created us Melanesians and given us our places, starting from Raja Ampat of West Papua to Fiji, from Biak and Manus Islands to New Caledonia, this is what we humans ended up calling ourselves as Melanesian peoples, the peoples of the Black Archipelago, to pair with the Black Continent of Africa.
This morning I have a vision, that singing and dancing is the key towards victory, and together with the spirits of those who have died during this struggle, I now wake up, stand up, dance and sing, to praise you alone.
I pray that God bless West Papua governor, my Son Lukas Enembe, PNG Prime Minister my Son Peter O’Neill, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare Vanuatu Prime Minister Mr. Charlot Salwai, Kanak LeaderVictor Tutugoro, Fiji Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama so that they stand up united, strong and one voice, for the sake of their own Melanesian Identity and Integrity, for the sake of our unity and sovereignty, as we all came out from one father, and one mother, our father is Melanesia, our mother is Melanesia.
After praying all these, Gen. Wenda quickly went to lay down and slept for about 30 minutes, then he asked one of his staff to go to connect to the Internet and read if there is anything coming out.
He then realised, that just a few hours before his dancing and praying, Seven Pacific Leaders were speaking at the UN Human Rights Commission Meeting in Geneva, on behalf of the Pacific Coalition on West Papua (PCWP).
He then asked all his staff members to clap their hands, and again praise the Lord. He then bowed his head down to the Earth, and said,
Let All Beings Sing, Praise the Lord for PCWP Support in Geneva Last Night
H.E. Hon Ronald Kay Warsal, Menteri Kehakiman dan Pemabangunan Masyarakat Vanuatu, mewakili 7 Negara Pasifik meminta perhatian PBB atas situasi keseluruhan West Papua di hadapan Sidang Dewan HAM PBB ke-34 – IST
Jayapura, Jubi – Lambatnya tindakan nyata pemerintah Indonesia terhadap berbagai rekomendasi PBB dan laporan HAM terkait West Papua, membuat tujuh negara-negara Pasifik desak PBB tangani situasi West Papua secara menyeluruh melalui laporan terpadu terkait situasi sebenarnya di West Papua.
Tujuh negara yang tergabung dalam Koalisi Kepulauan Pasifik untuk West Papua (PCWP) itu, diwakili Vanuatu, kali ini menegaskan desakannya kepada Presiden Dewan HAM dihadapan Sidang ke-34 Dewan HAM PBB, Rabu (1/3/2017) di Jenewa, Swiss.
Mewakili Tonga, Nauru, Palau, Tuvalu, Kepulauan Marshall, dan Kepulauan Solomon,Hon Ronald Kay Warsal, Menteri Kehakiman dan Pembangunan Komunitas Vanuatu, meminta Dewan HAM PBB memerintahkan Komisioner Tinggi HAM PBB agar membuat laporan terkonsolidasi terkait situasi sebenarnya West Papua.
“Tuan Presiden, mencermati berbagai pelanggaran (HAM) dan lambatnya tindakan pemerintah Indonesia, kami serukan kepada Dewan HAM PBB untuk meminta Komisioner Tinggi HAM membuat laporan terpadu atas situasi aktual di West Papua,” ujar Warsal.
Pasalnya, lanjut Warsal, beberapa pernyataan baru-baru ini dari pemegang mandat Dewan HAM PBB terkait pelanggaran HAM serius yang dilakukan Indonesia terhadap masyarakat asli Papua, tidak kunjung mendapat respon tindak lanjut dari Pemerintah Indonesia.
Pemegang mandat yang dimaksud adalah Pelapor Khusus PBB untuk promosi dan perlindungan hak kebebasan berpendapat dan berekspresi; Pelapor Khusus PBB untuk kebebasan berkumpul dan berorganisasi; Pelapor Khusus PBB untuk hak-hak masyarakat adat; Pelapor Khusus PBB untuk eksekusi sewenang-wenang dan diluar hukum; serta Pelapor Khusus PBB untuk penyiksaan dan berbagai tindakan tidak manusiawi lainnya.
“Kami juga meminta PBB menaruh perhatian pada pelanggaran HAM negara Indonesia lainnya di West Papua, termasuk komunikasi dari Komite PBB untuk Penghapusan Diskriminasi Rasial (CERD), yang merujuk pada pembunuhan dan penangkapan orang-orang Papua,” ujar Warsal.
PCWP juga menuntut perhatian Dewan HAM PBB terhadap sejumlah laporan lengkap terkait eksekusi aktivis dan penangkapan di luar hukum, pemukulan dan penembakan mematikan terhadap aksi-aksi damai, termasuk pelajar.
Situasi kekerasan terhadap perempuan Papua juga menjadi bagian yang dituntut PCWP untuk diperhatikan PBB.
Tahun lalu 7 negara Pasifik yang tergabung dalam PCWP ini juga angkat bicara terkait isu West Papua di Sidang Tahunan Majelis Umum PBB.
Warsal secara khusus memberikan catatan negative terhadap kinerja pemerintah Indonesia dalam penyelesaian kasus-kasus dugaan pelanggaran HAM di West Papua. Secara khusus mereka menekankan pelanggaran HAM berat oleh aparat keamanan Indonesia di tiga wilayah West Papua: Wasior, Wamena dan Paniai yang sudah mendapat rekomendasi jelas dari KOMNAS HAM.
“Seharusnya sudah bisa dihukum menurut hukum Indonesia dan internasional,” tegas Warsal.
Pernyataan yang ditunggu-tunggu cukup banyak pendukung kemerdekaan Papua pengguna media sosial ini juga menggarisbawahi aspek pelanggaran HAM lainnya oleh pemerintah Indonesia yang menurut mereka telah terjadi puluhan tahun namun dibiarkan sampai saat ini, yaitu migrasi.
“Migrasi dari orang-orang non Papua ke West Papua telah mengarah pada penurunan dramatis prosentase populasi masyarakat asli Papua.”
Pemerintah Indonesia, menurut PCWP, hingga saat ini tidak dapat mengurangi atau menghentikan pelanggaran HAM yang beragam dan meluas tersebut. “Tidak ada tindakan segera yang dilakukan pemerintah untuk memberi keadilan pada korban, apalagi yang bertanggung jawba dan transparan.”
Mereka juga mengingatkan bahwa pemerintah Indonesia sampai saat ini tidak mengumpulkan laporan periodic HAM yang menjadi norma internasional bagi seluruh anggota PBB.
Desakan terpadu
Kali ini PCWP meminta perhatian Dewan HAM PBB lebih menyeluruh, terpadu atau tidak parsial terhadap situasi pelanggaran HAM di Papua dengan memperhatikan seluruh prosedur dan perjanjian internasional yang relevan.
“Laporan Komisioner Tinggi harus memperhatikan informasi dari Perjanjian yang ada, Prosedur Khusus, dan Universal Periodic Review, termasuk laporan dari organisasi-organisasi regional dan internasional serta organisasi non-pemerintah, termasuk semua peraturan Internasional menyangkut HAM, konvensi-konvensi terkait, serta hak penentuan nasib sendiri,” tegas Warsal.
Mereka berharap laporan itu juga akan membuat rekomendasi tindakan untuk menghentikan pelanggaran HAM di Papua, serta akses penuh semua orang di West Papua yang diperlukan untuk pembuatan laporan terpadu tersebut.
“Tuan Presiden, sebagai penutup saya percaya bahwa tantangan-tantangan terkait West Papua harus dikembalikan menjadi agenda Perserikatan Bangsa Bangsa,” tegas Warsal di penghujung pidatonya.
Respon Koalisi Internasional untuk Papua
Sebelumnya, Koalisi Internasional untuk Papua (ICP) telah meminta Indonesia untuk membuka akses ke Papua Barat bagi wartawan internasional, pengamat independen, organisasi hak asasi manusia dan Palang Merah Internasional (ICRC).
ICP yang didukung Dewan Gereja Dunia (WCC)pada 22 Februari lalu di Pusat Ekumenis di Jenewa mendesak agar Indonesia mengakhiri kekerasan dan impunitas yang berlangsung di Papua.
Peter Prove, direktur Komisi Urusan Internasional WCC dari Gereja Urusan Internasional (UCLA) mengutip kata-kata Sekjen WCC, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, yang mengunjungi Papua Barat pada tahun 2012, mengatakan bahwa ia sepenuhnya mendukung pernyataanRev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit setelah kunjungan.
“Kami mendukung perjuangan hak asasi manusia rakyat Papua. Kami mendesak diakhirinya kekerasan yang sedang berlangsung dan impunitas. Selain itu, kami mendukung penegakkan keadilan sosial dan ekonomi melalui dialog serius dan proses politik yang konkrit yang berupaya mengatasi akar penyebab masalah ini,” kata Tveit, yang dikutip Peter Prove.
Dalam kesempatan yang sama, Rev. Francois Pihaate, sekretaris jenderal Konferensi Gereja-gereja Pasifik yang berbasis di Fiji, mengatakan gereja-gereja di wilayah tersebut sangat prihatin tentang kekerasan di Papua.
“Bagaimana kita sebagai gereja bisa tahu tentang apa yang terjadi di luar dunia kita sendiri? Itulah mengapa sebagai gereja, kita juga harus peduli terhadap apa yang terjadi di Papua Barat. Papua Barat itu bagian dari masyarakat Pasifik, sehingga komunitas Pasifik seharusnya menunjukkan solidaritas dan aksi,” kata Pihaate.
Denny Abdi, anggota misi Indonesia untuk PBB di Jenewa membantah data-data yang dipaparkan oleh ICP, yang menyebutkan hampir lima ribu orang ditangkap pada tahun 2016.
Namun dijelaskan oleh Veronica Koman, aktivis Papua Itu Kita dan pengacara publik, bahwa data-data itu berdasarkan fakta yang terjadi di lapangan. Penangkapan bukan hanya terjadi di Jayapura saja, tapi juga di Sentani, Merauke, Manokwari, Sorong, Kaimana, Menado, Timika dan Jawa.
“Di Jayapura saja, lebih dari 1000 orang ditangkap pada bulan Mei 2016,” kata Koman.(*)
PRIME Minister Manasseh Sogavare says the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has include Micronesia, Polynesia, and African countries to fight against human rights violations in West Papua.
Mr Sogavare explained this in Parliament when asked by Opposition Leader, Jeremiah Manele on Thursday.
He said Papua New Guinea and Fiji have taken different stand on this issue and did not want to follow the purpose and stand of MSG.
“PNG shares the same border with Indonesia and want to take cautious and Fiji has fixed connections with Indonesia,” Mr Sogavare said.
“Therefore, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia will include the Micronesia and Polynesia countries ply non alliance group in Africa,” he said.
Furthermore, Mr Sogavare said the government will continue with the shuttle diplomacy of sending the envoy to consult and engage in Pacific countries.
“We send our envoy to talk with the leaders within our own circle and outside of Melanesia,” the MSG chair said.
Rex Horoi is the Solomon Islands’ special envoy to West Papua.
Mr Sogavare said the envoy’s term will end after his two years with MSG lapses.
However, he wants to take it up to Parliament to find ways to continue after the chair of MSG ends.
Opposition leader, Mr Manele said it’s a complex issue because it involves self-determination and human rights.
However, he said this is the first time for the government to take a proactive step on this policy.
“It’s important for Indonesia to understand our position,” Mr Manele said.
“I hope the engagement and consultation go on, can help Indonesia to understand where we are coming from,” he added.
“I guess it’s advisable for more engaging and consultative approach we continue to take on this matter, at the end of the day, not counter-productive,” he said.
Mr Manele supports the idea to continue with a policy in Parliament after the end of Mr Horoi’s term.
RNZ – Indonesia is impeding Pacific regional efforts to pursue justice for human rights abuses against Papuans the United Liberation Movement for West Papua says.
Criticism from the Movement’s ambassador for the Pacific Islands region, Amatus Douw, comes as Papua is to be discussed at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders summit in the Federated States of Micronesia.
At last year’s summit, Forum leaders resolved to push Indonesia to allow a fact-finding mission on West Papua from where reports of rights abuses against the indigenous Melanesians continue to filter out.
After a year and no movement on this front, Dame Meg said Jakarta has indicated it would not welcome such a mission, and was uncomfortable with the term “fact-finding.”
Mr Douw said it was not a failure on the Forum’s part but a sign of the defensiveness of Indonesia which he accused of “consistently trying to run away from its colonialism and human rights atrocities”.
Solomons PM Manaseh Sogavare and leaders of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP)
Members of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (including Amatus Douw bottom left) with Solomon Islands prime minister Manaseh Sogavare (center, blue shirt) Photo: Facebook
The Australia-based envoy believes a direct approach to the United Nations is required.
Indonesia, he said, was “now using weapon to killing young Papuans but you will never kill international law and UN charter on self-determination, freedom and independence”.
The Indonesian embassy in New Zealand admitted Indonesia still faced obstacles in protecting the human rights of her citizens, but said Jakarta was addressing rights abuses.
It said Papua’s incorporation into Indonesia in the 1960s was sanctioned by the United Nations and was final.
Jayapura port, Papua province, Indonesia.
Jakarta says it is advancing economic development in Papua region to help improve living conditions for West Papuans. Photo: RNZI / Koroi Hawkins
At a pre-Forum workshop in Pohnpei, Dame Meg identified that regional leadership was partly divided over how to approach the Papua issue, but noted that people in Pacific nations felt very strongly about it.
Mr Douw echoed Dame Meg’s comments that the nascent Pacific Coalition for West Papua, including both government and civil society representatives, was gaining momentum in its bid to take the Papua issue to the UN level.
On the eve of the Forum summit, he urged Australia and New Zealand leaders to acknowledge their “moral responsibility” and get on board the coalition.
Caleb Otto, wakil tetap dari Republik Palau untuk PBB saat penyampaian di sesi debat umum PBB, Senin 26/09/2016. Sumber: http://www.tabloid-wani.com/2016/09/bertambahnya-satu-negara-kini-menjadi-7-negara-yang-angkat-isu-papua-di-pbb.html
New York, Tabloid-WANI — Diangkatnya isu pelanggaran HAM yang dilakukan oleh Indonesia di Papua tengah menjadi perhatian dunia Internasional. Beberapa hari yang lalu dalam sidang Mejelis Umun Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa yang berlangsung di New York Amerika Serikat pada tanggal 20 s/d 26 September 2016, ada enam negara dari Pasifik yang tergabung dalam Koalisi Pasifik untuk West Papua (PCWP) yaitu: Kepulauan Solomon, Republik Vanuatu, Republik Kepulauan Marshall, Republik Nauru, Tuvalu dan Kerajaan Tonga telah mengangkat isu Pelanggaran HAM yang bertahun-tahun lamanya dilakukan oleh Indonesia di bumi Cenderawasi Papua, dan ditutupi Indonesia sejak Papua dianeksasi ke dalam bingkai Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia (NKRI) pada 50 tahun silam.
Dalam pidato dari enam negara diatas, secara garis mereka minta PBB bersama Indonesia untuk segerah selidiki kasus Pelanggaran HAM di Papua dan hak penentuan nasib sendiri untuk Papua.
Ketika enam dari koalisi (PCWP) menyoroti isu pelanggaran hak asasi manusia yang terjadi di Papua, satu negara yang juga dari kawasan wilayah Pasifik yang teletak di 200 km sebelah utara wilayah provinsi Papua Barat yakni Republik Palau juga telah mengangkat isu Papua di sidang tahunan PBB ini.
Republik Palau mengangkat isu Papua pada sesi Debat Umum PBB tanggal (26/09) oleh Caleb Otto. Dalam penyampaian Caleb Otto yang merupakan wakil tetap Republik Palau untuk PBB mengatakan
“Kami bergabung dengan yang lain untuk mengadvokasi sebuah resolusi terhadap masalah-masalah di West Papua melalui dialog mendalam dan konstruktif” papar Caleb Otto di PBB. Berikut ini video Caleb Otto terkait Papua di sesi debat umum PBB
Berikut ini video Caleb Otto terkait Papua di sesi debat umum PBB
Leaders of six Pacific Island nations have highlighted concern about West Papua while speaking at the United Nations General Assembly.
At the general debate of the Assembly’s 71st session, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Nauru, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu called for UN action on alleged human rights abuses in Papua.
Calls for West Papuan self-determination rights to be respected were also made by some of the leaders.
Pacific leaders at the UN General Assembly expressed concern about human rights abuses in Papua. Top L to R: Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai; Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare; Tonga Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pohiva. Bottom L to R: Nauru President Baron Waqa; Marshall Islands President Hilda Heine; Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga Photo: UN Photo
RNZ – Solomon Islands has again called on Indonesia to cooperate with the United Nations Human Rights Council to allow a UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit its Papua region.
A march through the streets of Honiara in support of West Papua’s bid to join the MSG. Photo: Supplied
The call was made by a Solomons official Barrett Salato at the Human Rights Council Meeting in Geneva.
Mr Salato said there was a worrying trend by member states resisting human rights scrutiny by the Council.
A march through the streets of Honiara in support of West Papua’s bid for MSG membership Photo: Supplied
He said some large democracies professed to uphold universal human rights values but evaded scrutiny of their domestic practices by claiming non-interference in their sovereign affairs.
Mr Salato said Solomon Islands had consistently raised its concerns about human rights violations in West Papua and called for independent investigations of the reports.
Pohnpei, Jubi – Perwakilan Organisasi Masyarakat Sipil (OMS) Pasifik telah mendorong para pemimpin Pasifik untuk mendukung keterlibatan PBB dalam kasus rakyat dan bangas Papua Barat.
Ini adalah salah satu poin kunci dari perwakilan OMS yang diajukan selama pertemuan dengan Forum Troika Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). Troika forum adalah forum yang melibatkan Ketua PIF sebelumnya, Ketua PIF saat ini dan Ketua PIF mandatang. Ketua saat ini, Perdana Menteri PNG, Peter O’Neill tidal hair dalam pertemuan tersebut karena belum tiba di Ponhpei, Negara Federasi Micronesia. Ia diwakili oleh Menteri Luar Negerinya, Rimbink Pato.
Kepada Jubi, usai pertemuan dengan forum Troika, Ketua Pacific Islands Association of NGO (PIANGO), Emele Duituturaga mengatakan ia bersama rekan-rekan NGO se Pasifik menyampaikan kepada pemimpin PIF tentang proses-proses di PBB yang tersedia untuk mengadvokasi kasus Papua Barat.
“Kami melihat proses-proses di PBB mungkin bisa menjadi salah satu jalur untuk menyelesaikan kasus Papua Barat,” kata Emele.
Ia menambahkan hingga saat ini publik di Pasifik dan Melanesia hanya berpikir kasus Papua Barat adalah isu di Melanesia saja. Inilah yang membedakan advokasi sebelumnya dan saat ini untuk Papua Barat yang dilakukan beberapa negara dan NGO di Pasifik.
“Dalam rekomendasi kami, kami juga mencoba membantu para pemimpin kami untuk mengidentifikasi beberapa hubungan bilateral antara negara-negara di Pasifik dengan Indonesia. Terutama bantuan bilateral yang bisa menghalangi kepentingan dan pilihan kita di Pasifik yang perdu menjadi kepedulian kita,” lanjutnya.
Sebagai salah satu dari enam perwakilan OMS Pasifik yang ditunjuk untuk bertemu forum Troika, Emele juga mendorong pemimpin PIF untuk mensponsori Papua Barat masuk dalam daftar dekolonisasi dan berbicara pada Sekretaris Jenderal PBB untuk menunjuk utusan khusus dalam menangani kasus pelanggaran Hak Asasi Manusia di Papua Barat.
Dalam kesempatan yang sama, Perdana Menteri Samoa, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Neioti mengkonfirmasi perwakilan OMS mengangkat isu Papua Barat dalam pertemuan dengan Forum Troika. Namun ia mencatat, isu Papua Barat terdiri dari dua isu.
“Pertama adalah soal Hak Asasi Manusia. Isu ini bisa kita angkat dalam situasi seperti saat ini. Tapi soal penentuan nasib sendiri, ada proses yang harus kita ikuti,” kata Neoti.
Ia mencontohkan kasus negaranya sendiri yang menurutnya sangat mirip dengan kasus Papua Barat saat ini.
“Apa yang muncul di Papua Barat sangat mirip dengan situasi negara saya sendiri ketika kami ingin menjadi negara merdeka. Tentu saja kemudian PBB datang dan membimbing kami sepanjang jalan menuju kemerdekaan akhir tahun 1962. Jadi ada proses yang harus dilewati dan itu adalah langkah formal yang harus dilakukan,” lanjutnya.
Namun kekhawatiran atas isu Papua Barat dalam pertemuan puncak para pemimpin PIF pada Sabtu (10/9/2016) sempat muncul di kalangan NGO Pasifik ini. Hal ini disebabkan kemungkinan ketidakhadiran Perdana Menteri Kepulauan Solomon, Manasye Sogavare dalam pertemuan retreat tersebut, karena dilakukan pada hari Sabath. Sogavare adalah penganut Advent. Sogavare, sebagai Ketua Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) adalah salah satu kunci utama dalam advokasi kasus Papua Barat
Terkait hal ini Direktur Jenderal Kantor Perdana Menteri Vanuatu, Johnson Naviti menegaskan posisi Koalisi Pasifik untuk Papua Barat sangat jelas dalam pertemuan PIF kali ini. Menurutnya, Perdana Menteri Vanuatu, Charlot Salwai akan membawa isu Papua Barat dalam retreat nanti.
“Ketika saya berbicara atas nama pemerintah Vanuatu, ketika koalisi terbentuk di Honiara tahun lalu, saya telah menjelaskan kepada Perdana Menteri Kepulauan Solomon, posisi kami jelas; Dukungan yang kami nyatakan bukan hanya dari pemerintah atau satu kelompok politik, namun dari seluruh populasi Vanuatu,” kata Naviti.
Koalisi Pasifik untuk Papua Barat di Pasifik di bentuk di Honiara pada bulan Juli lalu atas inisiatif Sogavare setelah pertemuan khusus MSG. Anggota awal koalisi ini adalah Kepulauan Solomon, Vanuatu, Kepulauan Marshall, Tonga, Front Pembebasan Kanak (FLNKS), United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) dan Pacific Islands Association of NGO (Piango). Saat ini dua negara, Tuvalu dan Nauru telah bergabung dalam koalisi ini. (*)
PMPress – The Pacific Coalition on West Papua (PCWP) is gaining momentum with the addition of two new members and the confirmation of the membership of two other parties who indicated their profound support for the initiative since its introduction in Honiara, Solomon Islands in July this year.
The PCWP was initiated by Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands who is also the Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group with the aim of securing the support of the wider Pacific region for preposition of taking up the issue of West Papua with the United Nations for intervention. The initial membership comprises Solomon Islands Government, Vanuatu Government, Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste (FLNKS) and the United Liberation Movement of West Papua and the Pacific Islands Alliance of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO).
The two new members are the governments of Tuvalu and the Republic of Nauru who were respectively represented at the first meeting of the in the capital of the American Aloha State, Honolulu, yesterday Friday 2nd September, by Prime Minister Hon Enele Sopoaga and Her Excellency Marlene Moses. The latter serves as Nauru’s Ambassador to the United Nations.
The other two parties who indicated support for the initiative when it was introduced in Honiara at the margin of the 4th Pacific Islands Development Summit are the Kingdom of Tonga and the Republic of Marshall Islands. The expressed support of the governments of these two countries was confirmed today with the attendance of Prime Minister Hon Akilisi Pohiva and the Republic of Marshall Islands Minister for Public Works, Hon David Paul.
Members and friends of the Pacific Coalition on West Papua with the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor at the East-West Centre in Honolulu.
All the initial PCWP members were represented at the meeting except for the Republic of Vanuatu Government. The Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, Dame Meg Taylor was also present at the meeting.
In his opening remarks today, Prime Minister Sogavare said the nations of the Pacific have a duty as closest neigbours to West Papua to address the issues of concern to West Papuan.
He said the right to self-determination being denied to the people of West Papua since the last 50 years is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter, just like the rights to life and dignity that they are also denied as a result of their self-determination pursuit.
He added that the intention of the PCWP is perfectly in line with the principles of human rights and democracy, the very basis of the UN Charter, which all UN Member states should adhere to and protect.
Members and friends of the Pacific Coalition on West Papua during their meeting.
Prime Minister Sogavare said it would not be an easy task to unwind the wrongs that have been perpetrated by the complications and cover-up on the issue of West Papua over the years and this is where the need for collaborative and strategic approaches to this issue comes in.
“Only by working together and strategically dealing with the issue of West Papua can we accomplish the objective of our mission,” he said.
PIF Secretary-General Dame Taylor in her contribution to the discussions presented the forum’s position on the issue. She said the 46th PIF Summit in Port Moresby in 2015 resolved to send a fact-finding mission to West Papua, however the Indonesian Government sees the term ‘fact-finding’ as offensive and therefore that resolution impending implementation.
Dame Taylor said she has meet with the PIF’s Chair, Prime Minister O’Neill of Papua New Guinea and also the Indonesian President on the way forward on the resolution and the PIF’s Chair will meet with the President.
The Secretary-General of the ULMWP, Mr Octovanius Mote said the ULMWP represents the freedom movement of West Papua, which continues to pursue the rights of West Papuans to their land, self-determination and all other human rights enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
Prime Minister Sapoaga of Tuvalu said his country fully appreciates and sympathises with the aspirations and wishes of the people of West Papua to be on their own and fully realises their rights to exist as a country and determine their own continuation as a people.
The Pacific Coalition of West Papua members and friends discussing the way forward for the struggles for self-determination by the people of West Papua.
Minister Paul of the Republic of Marshall Islands said his country sees the issue of West Papua from a humanitarian perspective and humanitarian issues are at the forefront of the Marshall Islands Government.
The FLNKS representative, Mr Rodrigue Tiavouane said the FLNKS fully supports the PCWP initiative and the strategy by which it will be implemented.
He said the FLNKS went through the same process with its self-determination bid- starting with the Melanesian Spearhead Group then on to the Pacific Islands Forum and finally the UN Committee 24 (Special Committee on Decolonisation).
Prime Minister Pohiva of Tonga said it is a moral obligation to address the human rights abuses in West Papua and deteriorating conditions and call for self-determination and independence.
He said at the 70th United Nations General Assembly last year he spoke of how the objectives of good governance and accountability are all impossible without full support for human rights of people in areas of conflict throughout the world including the Pacific Islands.
The Solomon Islands Government Special Envoy on West Papua, Mr Rex Horoi, left end, at the Pacific Coalition on West Papua meeting.
Ambassador Moses of Tuvalu said it is important that the issue of West Papua be taken to UN C24 and to be successful it is important for the Pacific to have strong leadership in pursuing it in a strategic manner.
She said what works some people does not always work for others.
PIANGO Tonga Member, Mr Drew Havea said he was encouraged by the leadership on the issue of West Papua displayed by Prime Minister Sogavare.
He said PIANGO acknowledges the pain of the people of West Papua as the pain of the Pacific and would like to urge Pacific leaders to come to an agreement to stop the violence in West Papua and find a peaceful and dignified pathway to self-determination.
The meeting concluded with the expression of commitment by all PCWP members to their mission objective.
