Mixed reaction to MSG's response to West Papua group
There's been mixed reaction to the Melanesian Spearhead Group's decision on a bid by a West Papuan group to become a member.
There's
a mixed reaction to the Melanesian Spearhead Group's response to a
membership application by West Papuans. At their recent summit in Port
Moresby MSG leaders agreed to work more proactively with Jakarta on
addressing development needs of the indigenous Melanesians of
Indonesia's Papua region. However the MSG has rejected a formal
membership bid by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.
The coalition lodged its application over a year ago. However the MSG
postponed its decision on the application pending a report from an MSG
Foreign Ministers fact-finding mission to Indonesia's Papua region in
January. Vanuatu boycotted that trip because it felt the mission's
programme would not allow the MSG to obtain
credible information to
fulfill the MSG Leader's mandate, around making a decision on the
membership bid. The Foreign Ministers were in Papua province for a
matter of hours. One of them, Clay Forau of Solomon Islands, says he
came away with a distinct impression of a region developing well.
"CLAY FORAU: As far as we are concerned, in West Papua,
the West Papuans they are looking after themselves. They have a
government that is run by West Papuans. And I think we are seeing
greater development of democracy in West Papua to them looking after
themselves, governing themselves."
Following the Foreign Minister's findings the MSG has called for a
bid by a more "inclusive and united" West Papuan group. Vanuatu's Prime
Minister Joe Natuman says this means the coalition will have to go back
to the drawing board. However he has reservations about the veracity of
the Foreign Minister's report.
"JOE NATUMAN: Well I mean this is what the Foreign
Ministers said in their findings, their so-called findings... it's hard
to believe but that's what they said. Although they spent less than a
couple of hours in Jayapura and they came out with this report. I
thought it was not fairly representative of what the West Papuans
wanted. But that was the consensus. So, if there are groupings there,
then we have to bring them together. we are proposing that we bring them
together in Port Vila or Port Moresby. This umbrella grouping, they can
give themselves a name and then submit a fresh application to become
associated with the MSG."
But others have seen much to be positive about in the MSG's current
moves on West Papua. The governor of Papua New Guinea's National Capital
District, Powes Parkop, says the MSG's openness to a new West Papuan
application is an encouraging step for the cause of West Papuan rights.
He says he's confident the conditions will be met.
"POWES PARKOP: For the people of West Papua it's like
when the Americans landed on the moon. Big giant step that of course
will not solve everything in one go but hopefully will open the doors to
the ultimate desire of our people."
Meanwhile, the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation is yet to
make a formal statement on the response. This group could play a
central role in the new MSG membership bid, although this is by no means
guaranteed. One of the main aims for the Coalition's bid was that the
struggle for West Papuan self-determination and recognition of their
basic rights be given prominence at the international level. This
appears to have been achieved, although the coalition has hinted that
its work has only just begun.
Sourse: http://www.radionz.co.nz/
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