Tag: Pacific Islands Forum

Question of the integration of New Caledonia as a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum
Roch WAMYTAN
UC-FLNKS and NATIONALISTS Group
FLNKS Signatory of the Noumea Accord
President of the Group Congress of New Caledonia
rockwamytan@hotmail.com
roch.wamytan@congres.nc
To H.E. Dame Meg TAYLOR Secretary General to the Pacific Islands Forum
Noumea, 5th September 2016
Subject: Question of the integration of New Caledonia as a full member of the Pacific Islands Forum
Excellency, During the 47th Summit of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) which will be held from September 7 to 11, 2016, in Pohnpei, Federates States of Micronesia, the candidacy of New Caledonia to the status of full member will be again examined.
In this way, considering the current political situation in Kanaky/New Caledonia, particularly in the prospect of electoral consultation on the achievement of full sovereignty of the country which is planned from 2018, I am writing to send you the position of my political group at the Congress of New Caledonia, shared also by the FLNKS1 .
This letter is in the continuity of the letter I sent you already last year. First, let me remind the role of the PIF in the international support of the Kanak people’s struggle, in particularly within the framework of the reinscription, in 1986, of 1 Until now, during all the FLNKS Congresses, no motion was passed in the direction of an agreement for the change of status of New Caledonia in the PIF. New Caledonia on the United Nations list of Non Self Governing Territories.
This support was able to be developed, among others, under the aegis of our countries brothers of the Melanesia. Indeed, since 1986, the FLNKS benefits a special guest status as an observer member of the PIF. In 1998, after the signing of the Nouméa Accord which involved the country in a process of emancipation and decolonization, the Kanak independentists have accepted to integrate the government of New Caledonia at the time and place of the FLNKS as observer member within the PIF. This open-mindedness gesture was made during the PIF’s summit in Palau in 1999. Besides, in 2006, New Caledonia became associate member of the PIF.
In September 2013, following a mission of the ministerial committee in New Caledonia, the executives of the organization recognized the legitimacy of the New Caledonian candidacy for the status of full member within PIF. Unfortunately, since 2006, we notice a sidelining of the independentist executives concerning all the decisions, as political as diplomatic, relative to the PIF, taken by the government of New Caledonia. Moreover I had informed Mr Henri PUNA of this problem, in 2013, during the mission of the ministerial committee. As signatory of the Noumea Accord, I have called out on several occasions the partners of this accord on the respect for its sincere and whole implementation.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group, the PIF and the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization were also notified on the problems that our country crosses, in particular on the question of the establishment and the revision of the special electoral rolls for the provincial elections and for the consultation on the country’s achievement of full sovereignty.
As you know, Oceania is today considered as the new center of the world growth, provided with a considerable potential which can raise the challenges of the 21th century (energy, raw materials, halieutic resources, etc.). So, it is clear that France, in the name of its greatness, of its place in the world, of its best interests, of its rank of the second naval strength in the world behind the USA, wishes to ensure to keep the sovereign powers in New Caledonia. Recently, a symposium organized by the French Senate in January 2013, in Paris, confirmed again the interest of France for its French territories of the Pacific.
The speakers of this symposium thus recommended to defend in this continent the best interests of France in connection with the public and private French companies. France also defends its own interests by using the French territories as a bridgehead or support base.
Concerning French overseas territories, the President François Hollande during his tour of the « last French colonies » had a constant in his speeches: « France is present all around the world, a country where the sun never goes down, France is a country of Oceania, Indian Ocean, America, the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean ».
These declarations express the politic of red line of the forbidden independence which France implements. Sometimes, under the cover of democracy, we can reveal maneuvers of a State trying to assure its domination while putting up a good show in front of the international community. The independentist executives that we are have what to be worried in view of this situation in French overseas territories and taking in consideration the declarations of certain high-level French politicians following the example of President François Hollande during his last journey in New Caledonia in November 2014 asserting in his speech in the Tjibaou Cultural center that the best interests of France are also situated in the Pacific.
Yet, New Caledonia is an oceanian country and France is an european country. The FLNKS gave time to build and reach its independence. Important results were obtained, but serious drifts, further to a deliberated will of confinement from the State, led New Caledonia towards a trapdoor into which France locks it more and more in the name of the best interests of the Nation. For us, it is so out of the question for the moment, and as long as New Caledonia is not independent, that she could obtain the status of full member within the PIF.
In the same line, it is inconceivable for us, as regard to the Melanesian Spearhead Group, that the FLNKS could give its place to the government of New Caledonia. Because it would definitely let France enter in these regional organizations, following the principle of the « Trojan horse », organizations which were of all fights for the Kanak people’s independence. Our country which is going to commemorate, on September 24th, 2016, 163 years of taking possession by France, does not have vocation to play eternally the role of casting a favourable light on its administrative power which the only purpose is to claim, in the eyes of the nations of this region, its status of « oceanian » country, to benefit from this position.
The geographical and political reality reminds that France, situated in 20 000 km of the Pacific is an european, and not an oceanian State. To permanently tweak the shot on this basic reality amounts to maintain the colonialist and imperialist system, and paves the way for future situations of conflicts. More than ever New Caledonia, Melanesia and the Pacific, need stability, cohesion and peace. Gain independence peacefully and through negotiation was a difficult choice that we made. The support of regional institutions (PIF, MSG) and Independent States of the region is crucial for our people and our country. Indeed, the balance of power between the Administering power, France, and the colonized people, the Kanak people, is not in our favor.
If we are engaged for 30 years in a decolonization process with the signing of the political agreements (Matignon and Noumea) with our colonial power, we believe that it does not want the independence of our country. We are today in the last mandate of the Noumea Accord, and the political development of these last months does not allow us to envisage the granting, to New Caledonia, of a status of full member within the PIF.
In this way, allow non-independent and non-autonomous countries to become full member of the PIF is equivalent to bring our colonial power as a full member. Because the sovereign powers and full sovereignty is always that of the colonial power. Support for regional institutions and independent countries in the region is indispensable in our fight for independence. Considering elements developed above, I am writing to ask for your understanding, kindness, and support of your high authority to postpone the examination of the candidacy of New Caledonia to the status of full member of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Finally, I inform you that brother countries of our Pacific region, the Melanesian Spearhead Group, and the President of the United Nations Special Committee of Decolonization, were also seized on this matter.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
President of the UC-FLNKS and Nationalists Group Former president of the Congress of New Caledonia (2011-2012/2013-2014) Former president of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (2001-2003) Former president of the FLNKS (1995-2001) Roch WAMYTAN
September 5, 2016
PIF: Focus on West Papua
Charlene Lanyon Tuesday, June 21, 2016, FIJITIMES.com
SUBMISSIONS made by various sectors to the Pacific Islands Forum have highlighted West Papua as an issue of concern in the region.
Committee representative Lopeti Senituli said 47 submissions were received from the private sector, civil society, individuals, donor communities and Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP) agencies.
“The committee comprises experts in specialist fields and we are tasked with identifying and recommending to the forum leaders a set of initiatives that are transformative of the region and supportive of deeper regionalism.
“We would also review progress reports and prepare a brief report to the forum leaders.
“During our assessment, we found that 13 of the 47 proposals that were received were on the issue of West Papua,” he said.
PNG’s Leonard Louma said West Papua was also one of the five priority issues adopted by the forum last year, along with climate change, fisheries, cervical cancer and information and communications technology.
“However, last year the focus was on the human rights violations happening in West Papua,” he said.
“This year’s submission focuses on highlighting the issue on the international stage such as at the United Nations and its Human Rights Council.
“Papua New Guinea PM and forum chair Peter O’Neill had written to the Indonesian president and he has informed us that the appropriate place to bring up this issue was at the Bali Democracy Forum.”

June 23, 2016
Menlu Papua Nugini: Kami Tidak Tertarik Bicara Papua Merdeka
Menteri Luar Negeri Papua Nugini, Rimbink Pato (Foto: RNZ/Johnny Blades)
PORT MORESBY, SATUHARAPAN.COM – Menteri Luar Negeri Papua Nugini, Rimbink Pato, mengatakan Papua adalah bagian integral dari Indonesia sebagai negara yang berdaulat. Negaranya tidak tertarik untuk membicarakan penentuan nasib sendiri bagi rakyat Papua.
“Posisi Papua Nugini selalu pada pandangan bahwa provinsi Irian Jaya (nama lama dari Papua) merupakan bagian integral dari bangsa yang berdaulat Indonesia. Jadi kami tidak tertarik membicarakan masalah penentuan nasib sendiri, karena itu tidak pernah menjadi masalah bagi kami, dan itu tidak pernah menjadi perhatian bagi kami,”
kata Rimbink dalam wawancara dengan Johnny Blades dari radionz.co.nz.
Kendati demikian, Papua Nugini, menurut dia, menganggap masalah pelanggaran Hak Asasi Manusia (HAM) di Papua tetap menjadi keprihatinan, seperti telah terungkap[ dalam resolusi yang dikeluarkan oleh pemimpin Pacific Island Forum di Port Moresby.
“Perdana menteri kami telah menulis surat kepada Presiden Joko Widodo dan memberitahukan resolusi itu; dan mungkin akan ada respon untuk itu. Tapi itu bukan masalah yang ada hubungannya dengan panggilan apapun untuk menentukan nasib sendiri,”
kata dia.
Komentar Rimbink merupakan jawaban atas berbagai spekulasi atas kunjungan Menkopolhukam, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan ke Papua Nugini, yang oleh banyak kalangan dikatakan untuk menekan negara itu untuk tidak mendukung kelompok yang selama ini menyuarakan penentuan nasib sendiri bagi rakyat Papua.
Rimbink juga menegaskan bahwa kerjasama Papua Nugini dengan Indonesia berlangsung cukup erat. Termasuk dalam berbagai masalah yang dihadapi, seperti soal kebakaran hutan di Merauke dan ketegangan militer di perbatasan.
“Ada beberapa insiden baru-baru ini sepanjang perbatasan tapi kami mampu bekerja sangat erat dengan pemerintah Indonesia dan membawa masalah tersebut ke sebuah resolusi. Dan, seperti yang saya katakan, Papua Nugini menjadi teman yang sangat dekat dari Indonesia, dan Indonesia mempercayai negara kami, sehingga tidak ada yang kami ingin lakukan yang akan menggantikan kepercayaan dari rakyat dan pemerintah Indonesia kepada kami.”
Namun pada saat yang sama ia menekankan bahwa isu hak asasi manusia tetap penting dan mengharuskan Indonesia dan Papua Nugini bekerjasama.
Editor : Eben E. Siadari
April 1, 2016
RI Sayangkan Isu Papua Barat Dibahas di Forum Negara Pasifik
metrotvnews.com, Fajar Nugraha • 11 September 2015 15:59 WIB
Metrotvnews.com, Port Moresby: Forum Negara Pasifik di Port Moresby, Papua Nugini menegaskan kembali kedaulatan NKRI, termasuk Provinsi Papua. Namun, Indonesia menyayangkan isu Papua dibahas dalam forum ini.
Wakil Menteri Luar Negeri RI A.M Fachir, menghadiri KTT ke-46 Forum Negara Pasifik atau Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) di Port Moresby, Papua Nugini. Forum ini berlangsung 7 – 11 September 2015. Pertemuan yang membahas isu-isu Perikanan, Perubahan Iklim, Kanker Serviks, Teknologi Informasi dan pelanggaran HAM di Papua Barat, menyepakati komunike bersama sebagai hasil dari KTT tersebut.
“Indonesia sebagai Negara kepulauan memiliki berbagai tantangan yang sama dengan Negara Negara pulau di Pasifik. Indonesia berkomitmen untuk mendukung negara-negara Pasifik dalam menghadapi berbagai tantangan pembangunan,” ujar Wamenlu dalam pernyataannya di forum tersebut, dalam keterangan tertulis Kementerian Luar Negeri yang diterima Metrotvnews.com, Jumat (11/9/2015).
“Indonesia siap, dan dengan semangat, mendukung negara-negara PIF dalam upaya pembangunannya,” tegas Wamenlu Fachir.
Salah satu isu yang mendapat perhatian tinggi dalam pertemuan ini terkait dengan tantangan perubahan iklim yang dihadapi negara-negara Pasifik. Mantan Dubes RI untuk Arab Saudi itu pun menyampaikan bahwa Indonesia memiliki komitmen yang tinggi untuk mengatasi perubahan iklim.
“Indonesia juga akan bantu dorong kepentingan negara kepulauan di Pasifik dalam upaya mendapatkan hasil yang ambisius dan equitable pada pertemuan Perubahan Iklim UNFCCC di Paris akhir tahun ini. Kita akan bekerja dengan negara Pasifik untuk mendapatkan hasil di Paris guna mengatasi tantangan yang dihadapi negara-negara Pasifik terkait perubahan Iklim,”
sebut Wamenlu.
Terkait dengan masuknya isu pelanggaran HAM di Papua Barat dalam agenda PIF, Indonesia menyayangkan hal ini, mengingat isu tersebut masuk atas desakan berbagai NGO dan bukan merupakan usulan Pemerintah Negara-negara PIF. Indonesia menyampaikan bahwa usulan tersebut tidak sejalan dengan tujuan utama pembentukan PIF, yaitu untuk mendorong kerja sama ekonomi dan pembangunan di kawasan.
Dari hasil pembahasan isu Papua, para Kepala Negara PIF kembali menyatakan dukungannya kepada kedaulatan dan integritas NKRI, termasuk terhadap semua Provinsi Papua. Selain itu, juga diusulkan agar ketua PIF melakukan konsultasi dengan Pemerintah Indonesia termasuk dengan mengirimkan misi pencari fakta PIF ke Papua Barat terkait adanya tuduhan pelanggaran HAM.
Menanggapi pembahasan isu Papua, Wamenlu RI dalam pernyataannya menyampaikan penolakan terhadap “Tuduhan pelanggaran HAM di Papua yang tidak berdasar dan merefleksikan pemahaman yang salah terhadap fakta sesungguhnya di lapangan,” tegas Wamenlu.
Wamenlu RI juga menolak intervensi asing termasuk usulan adanya misi pencari fakta PIF ke provinsi Papua Barat terkait tuduhan pelanggaran HAM.
“Sebagai negara demokratis, Indonesia sangat menjunjung tinggi supremasi hukum dan penghormatan terhadap HAM. Indonesia memiliki mekanisme HAM nasional yang berfungsi dengan baik yang belum tentu dimiliki oleh sebagian Negara PIF,”
tegas Wamenlu RI.
Selain itu, Wamenlu RI juga menekankan bahwa pembangunan selama ini di Papua jauh lebih maju dari sebagian negara kepulauan di Pasifik. Wamenlu Fachir menyayangkan bahwa dalam pembahasan tidak disoroti kemajuan yang telah dicapai di Papua dan jumlah dana pembangunan yang dialokasikan ke Papua untuk pembangunan sosial dan ekonomi.
PIF adalah organisasi regional di kawasan Pasifik yang bertujuan untuk mencapai pertumbuhan dan pembangunan berkelanjutan. PIF Memiliki 16 negara anggota dan 17 Mitra Wicara. Indonesia merupakan salah satu mitra wicara bersama Amerika Serikat (AS), Tiongkok, Kuba, Filipina, Italia, Spanyol, India, Inggris, Jepang, Kanada, Korea Selatan (Korsel), Malaysia, Perancis, Thailand, Turki, dan Uni Eropa.
(FJR)
September 11, 2015

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