Assembly in Rarotonga to 52n.d The Pacific Islands Discussion board, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has agreed to nominate a particular consultant to interact in negotiations with Indonesia on the difficulty of West Papua.
Following a gathering of MSG delegations on Monday morning, Fiji’s Prime Minister Setini Rabuka introduced: “Earlier in the present day, the Melanesian Spearhead Group Caucus appointed me as Particular Envoy to deal with the difficulty of West Papua.” Along with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marapi, we’ve been tasked to satisfy with the President of Indonesia to debate this essential matter.
The top of Vanuatu’s delegation to this week’s assembly, Local weather Minister Ralph Regnan, chaired the MSG sub-regional assembly on Monday.
In a tweet, Regenvanu famous that the choice to ship a particular envoy was “an extra step agreed by the MSG, which is an unbiased evaluation by the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights and a MSG chief of the Pacific Islands Discussion board and the MSG’s present Fulfills selections. Go to West Papua.
On the 2019 Pacific Islands Discussion board in Tuvalu, leaders requested the Indonesian authorities to permit a UN human rights delegation to go to West Papua – however they’re nonetheless ready. For years, the Indonesian authorities has blocked a proper mission to West Papua by the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights.
On the twenty secondn.d On the MS Summit in Port Vila final August, Melanesian leaders reaffirmed that “probably the most applicable discussion board to debate the problems is on the United Nations by way of the United Nations Human Rights Council.”
MSG leaders have continued to name for the implementation of the 2019 discussion board’s resolution, and are more likely to increase the difficulty with different members of the discussion board later this week.
Throughout the MSG, Vanuatu has lengthy been a serious supporter of the United Liberation Motion of West Papua (ULMWP), with sturdy help from the Entrance de Liberation Nationale Kunk et Socialiste (FLNKS), a liberation coalition that features 5 nations in New Caledonia. represents the Member group.
On the seventy fifth session of the United Nations Basic Meeting in 2020, then-Prime Minister of Vanuatu Bob Lowman famous: “The indigenous folks of West Papua are victims of human rights violations… Final yr, leaders of the Pacific Islands Discussion board respectfully Referred to as the Indonesian authorities. To permit the United Nations Workplace of Human Rights Commissioner to go to West Papua Province.
Indonesia has not bowed to discussion board lobbying, though it has been a discussion board dialogue accomplice since 2001.
Lately, the federal government of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has strengthened its engagement within the archipelago, looking for to forge alliances with the West Papuan nationalist motion, in addition to regional agendas on safety, maritime and transport hyperlinks. along with Melanesia. Indonesia’s diplomacy progressed when it gained affiliate membership of the MSG in 2015, whereas the ULMWP was granted observer standing solely. Makes an attempt by the ULMWP to achieve full MSG membership – just like New Caledonia’s FLNKS standing – have since been delayed and unsuccessful.
MSG affiliate membership has enabled Jakarta to exert political affect over the governments of Fiji and Papua New Guinea, whilst group help for West Papua has elevated. Over the previous decade, Jakarta has intensified its regional diplomacy, with the first objective of stopping West Papua from being added to the UN’s checklist of non-self-governing territories (Indonesia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea are members of the UN Particular Committee, however West Papua is just not presently listed, in contrast to New Caledonia and French Polynesia).
In September, PNG Prime Minister James Marapi met with President Widodo on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Jakarta. “I respect Papua New Guinea’s help for Indonesia’s sovereignty and integrity, together with the help proven on the GMS assembly final month,” Jokowi stated.
Over the previous few years, the Pacific Islands Discussion board Secretariat has continued to liaise with Jakarta, whereas recognizing Indonesia’s sovereignty claims over West Papua.
The Secretary Basic of the Discussion board, Henry Puna, made a four-day mission to Indonesia in December final yr, taking part within the Indonesia-Pacific Discussion board for Improvement and the fifteenth Bali Democracy Discussion board. Puna famous that “there’s a lot that the Pacific can be taught from Indonesia, a nation of 17,000 islands, particularly of their strategic sectors of aviation and delivery.”
On the similar time, Pacific Church and civil society activists fear that Indonesian diplomacy is undermining authorities help for West Papuans. In 2021 and 2022, there was no point out of West Papua in official discussion board communications.
With a view to undermine the West Papuan solidarity motion all through the area, Indonesian gangs usually bombard journalists and West Papuan activists on social media. Analysis from cybersecurity teams equivalent to BellingCat has documented that these bot networks are run by firms affiliated with the Indonesian authorities.
Nonetheless, the most important regional ecumenical group, the Pacific Convention of Church buildings (PCC), has joined different group organizations in campaigning for the precise to self-determination and an finish to human rights abuses by the Indonesian army and police.
In response to MSG’s newest transfer, a press release from PCC Basic Secretary Reverend James Bhagwan “welcomes the initiative of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to additional have interaction with Indonesia on the scenario in West Papua and a complete technique of engagement.” which calls for that the West Papuans should not neglected. Telana “
Reverend Bhagwan added: “Whereas appreciating the appointment by MSG of Fiji PM Rabuka and PNG Prime Minister Marapi as Particular Envoys to satisfy the President of Indonesia on West Papua, the engagement of the United Liberation Motion of West Papua (ULMWP) As such, MSG observers would have to be secured by PMs to have legitimacy for the method.
We additionally name for a gaggle of dignitaries, together with civil society, to behave for transparency,” he stated. “The scenario in West Papua will even be on the agenda of the twelfth Pacific Convention of the Church Basic Meeting. , which begins in only one week in Kinki-New Caledonia.”
PCC members have lengthy supported their tutorial companions in Jayapura. After the September 16 assault on the Kingme church headquarters, Benny Gaya, moderator of the Papuan Council of Church buildings, stated the church was being focused due to its civic work on behalf of West Papuans.
Different civil society teams across the area proceed to help autonomy for the folks of West Papua. Joey Tau of Youngsolwara Pacific: “We welcome the choice of the MSG leaders on the appointment of the Prime Minister Rabuka as Particular Consultant, and hope that the leaders of the discussion board will verify it. Nevertheless, we additionally name for peace talks and dialogue that To make sure that the leaders of West Papua are on the desk because the folks negotiate the best way ahead.
Worldwide human rights organizations have been expressing concern over the continuing rights violations by Indonesian safety forces. Over the previous two months, brutal killings and violence have continued in numerous components of West Papua. For instance, in September, Indonesian army operations displaced 674 folks within the highland regency of Yahokimo, and 5 younger Papuans had been killed by the Indonesian army. In the identical month, 5 civilians had been killed throughout a army sweep within the village of Mamor, within the coastal regency of Fakfak.
With elections for the Indonesian presidency and Folks’s Consultative Meeting due in February 2024, President Joko Widodo ends his time period in workplace with out stopping abuses by Indonesian safety forces in West Papua. If the discussion board agrees to return the MSG’s particular consultant to this week’s assembly in Rarotonga, he could have a brief window to get a response from Jakarta.