Papua New Guinea praim minista James Marape itokim PNG parliment tete olsem gavman bilong em bai respektim sovergnity bilong Indonesia na ino inap long toktok long ol human rights hevi long West Papua.
Mr Marape itok yet olsem sapos ol West Papua refugees ikam insait long PNG long ronowe long ol hevi bai PNG gavman ilukautim ol tasol ol lhevi insait boda bilong Indonesia em gavman blong em bai ino inap long mekim wanpla toktok long en
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INDONESIA and Papua New Guinea are not fully independent if they do not address allegations of human rights abuses against Melanesians in Papua and West Papua province, National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop says.
“These two countries need to tell the truth of how West Papuans are now under the Indonesians government,” he said.
“Indonesia is not free unless West Papuans are free. And PNG is not free unless we are brave enough to tell the Indonesians that they must give independence to the West Papuans”.
Parkop said that yesterday during a protest march against allegations of humans rights abuse of Melanesians in Papua and West Papua Province
“It is time both countries speak the truth and not approach each other with false impression that the West Papuans are Indonesians. Papua New Guineans must know the truth that the West Papuans and Papua New Guineans are one people living on the island of New Guinea for thousands of years before the European colonisers came. In the 1800s, the Dutch colonised the West Papuans and the Indonesian islands like Java, Sulawesi and Sumatra while the British colonised PNG and later gave us to Australians and we became independent in 1975.”
Indonesians were advised to keep away from the marching routes.
Police monitored the march organised by PNG Union for Free West Papua, PNG Council of Churches and Parkop and it was trouble free. Northern Governor Gary Juffa, addressing the protesters at Sir John Guise Stadium, said that Papua New Guineans should celebrate the 44th independence anniversary with guilt because “our fellow Melanesians brothers and sisters in Papua and West Papua were being suppressed by the Indonesian government.
“They are suffering and the world is watching and doing nothing. The world is not busy. So we the Melanesians must not keep quiet. We have to rise up and let the world know about their sufferings.
“The Western world like the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and France will not go against Indonesia because they have multibillion dollar project investments like the giant Freeport copper mining in Papua province.
Prime Minster James Marape said the Government would not stop Papua New Guineans from participating in any legal protest marches as long as there was no disturbance of peace.
“We have our own security issues that deal with sovereignty and maintaining united approach and I don’t have the luxury to make public utterance at this moment,” hesaid.
“Our people have every right to lawfully conduct in public gatherings like this that’s not sanctioned by the government.
“They have every right to make whatever concerns they feel not only in West Papua but any issue in the country.”
Marape said he was aware of certain MPs participating which he said was their freedom.
“We may share individual concerns but our public outlook as we speak today is that our first and foremost priority goes to our own internal borders we have.”
Source: The National PNG
Thank you to the PNG Council of Churches for coming out to support this noble course. The right to self determination is not just a universal declaration provide in Article 1 of the United Nation Charter, it’s also a right promulgated by God when he got Moses to tell Pharaoh – Let my people go!
Thank you Governor Gary Juffa for your continuous support for our people of West Papua. You have never withered and I salute you. You are a champion of our people.
I thank Prime Minister Hon. James Marape for the brave stand he has made. We are a manifestation of that stand that we won’t stand by and allow our people to be killed and oppressed.
I am proud and salute you all our people. For 57 years they have been fighting on their own. For 57 years they have been alone because we allowed fear to dictate our decisions and action. Today we made and are making a big statement- that our people are not alone. That we are all Papuans, East and West Papuans
In these 57 years Governments of PNG, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Solomons, Fiji, Europe and the America’s have failed our people because we have left it to our Governments! Today we the people must stand up and speak about what is in our hearts and mind and not leave to just Governments to decide.
I salute you all our people, we are here to stand in solidarity with our people of West Papua and to assure them that they are not alone. That we hear their cries and feel their pain. That we will amplify their cries to the Government and people of the world so that the world can shift and help them to realize their aspirations.
People have asked me many times, Governor how will you be able to take on this mighty challenge and help our people realize their freedom. Today I say only the truth will set our people free and I am here to speak the truth without fear! This is what will see our people free!
Indonesia or what it is now, had a Hindu Buddhist Empire around 375 AD to the 13 century. The fact is West Papua was never part of such empire.
In the 13 Century, there were a number of Muslim sultanate or empires in the area including Majapahit, Malacca and Tidore. Again the fact is, West Papua was NEVER part of these sultanates or empire.
Portugal and Netherlands started colonizing Indonesia around the 16 Century. Initially Netherlands started with the Dutch East Indies Company and then the Government of Holland took over what was then called the Dutch East Indies. West Papua was never part of that colony!
West Papua only become a colony of Holland or Netherlands in the 1800s like PNG, towards the end of 1800s towards 19th Century. A difference of over 250 years. So Indonesia and West Papua do not have the same colonial history!
To say or use the colonial history as basis for incorporating West Papua into the Indonesian Republic is to suggest that Kenya and Zimbabwe should be one country or Laos and Vietnam should be one country or Argentina and Chile should be one country. This is a ridiculous and very weak basis for justifying incorporation or take over of West Papua by Indonesia.
During the Second World War Indonesian Independence Leaders collaborated with the Japanese and when the war was over they fought a war of independence against Holland/Netherlands and gained independence in 1947.
West Papua never fought a war against Holland and was never part of the war of liberation against Holland. It was never part of the Declaration of Independence by Indonesia in 1947.
West Papuans were collaborating with Holland and preparing for Independence when they were invaded in 1962. It already had a coat of arms, flag, National anthem, military and police. It already had its own Parliament by the time Indonesia invaded in 1962. West Papua was by fraud incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 some 20 years after Indonesia had already declared Independence.
We all know the fraud that happened in 1969. The requirement of the law is very clear – ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE. That was the law in 1969 and it remains the law now! That’s the law we will apply next month in Bougainville’s Referendum. That’s the law United Nations applied in East Timor in 1999.
The West Papuan’s preparation to independence is not unusual. We in PNG were being prepared for and got independence the same way. In 1964 we elected the first house of Assembly. Some Members were appointed by the colonial Government. In 1968 we had the first fully elected House of Assembly. That is when Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare and Sir Julius Chan were voted into Parliament and the rest is history.
I saw my parents vote in 1968. I was about 7 years old and in Standard 1 in Primary School. They voted for independence because they voted for the late Sir Paliau Maloat who stood for Independence and nothing else. I know this because in my village, the vote was unanimous in favour of Sir Paliau.
By assembling only 1025 people to vote in 1969, Indonesia was not only breaching the law, it was also insulting the people of West Papua and had no confidence in them from the beginning. This is the general attitude of the Indonesian Government and it’s people then and today. They believed West Papuans can’t think for themselves, and that they don’t have same or better mental capacities. That they were incapable of deciding their future in 1969. And they cannot run their own country and decide their own future today. It’s not unusual they are calling West Papuans as monkeys today. It’s always been Indonesian attitude from 1961 till today!
In 1969 when Indonesia conducted its fake vote, the population of West Papua was about 1million. Today, some 57 years later, the West Papuan population is just about 2 million. In the same period the population of PNG has gone from 1.5million in 1969 to almost 10 million now! This shows that West Papuans have been systematically by design, neglected, killed and oppressed. This in itself says a lot about the incorporation. It has failed!
Indonesia must come to terms with these facts and begin the process of self determination. Indonesia will be free of guilt, shame and free of discrimination and state violence when it frees West Papua. Our regions will, and can live in peace and harmony when we solve and cure this sore in our relationship.
We are capable of living peacefully and harmoniously with our neighbor Indonesia. We do not hate Indonesia and the Indonesian people but we will never be good neighbors and have a prosperous future when you continue to suppress our people and treat them as animals.
Stand up for peace and dignity Indonesia. Show the world that you can overcome your demons and mistakes, and help us to have a greater future. Show us that you are a great nation and champion of Self determination! Show us that you are a law abiding nation, by allowing the Papuans to determine their own future in accordance with the law.
Fear of the future will only limit us to remaining in a poor past. Let us all rise above our fear and insecurity, to be brave and forge a greater future that is peaceful and prosperous. Indonesia overcome your fears and insecurities. A great future awaits you if you choose to be brave and resolve this crisis honorably, by allowing the Papuans their rights.
To the Governments of the region and the world, fear has not solved any crisis and will never solve this crisis. It is only through being brave and fearless that we can solve this problem, by telling the Indonesian Government honestly and sincerely what we know and feel. Otherwise we will continue to live in fear and insecurity forever and we all will miss the opportunity for a greater future together.
Let us just tell the truth and the truth will set our people of West Papua, Indonesia and our region free!
HON. POWES PARKOP LLB LLM MP
Governor
PC – Wanpis Ako
Source: FACEBOOK.com
Thousands of Papua New Guineans marched through Port Moresby in support of West Papuan freedom today.
This follows weeks of protests by West Papuans, as well as unrest, in the neighbouring Indonesian-ruled territory.
PNG civil society groups were among those leading today’s large demonstration of Melanesian solidarity in the PNG capital.
Those marching condemned recent cases of racism towards West Papuans in Indonesian cities which sparked the wave of mobilisations across the border.
They were also calling for West Papua to be given an independence referendum.
Video footage being shared on social media showing protest by hundreds in #PNG capital Port Moresby today with protesters condemning #Indonesia and calling for indigenous #Westpapua to be given freedom. Looking at the footage, I must say I am impressed with the numbers.
It’s estimated that over two thousand people took part in today’s rally in Moresby.
At least 10 people have been killed and dozens arrested amid an Indonesian secyurity forces crackdown in the two Papuan provinces.
The PNG prime minister James Marape has condemned the violence, saying “no human beings deserve to be killed, especially on their own land,” in a televised press conference.
Mr Marape has reiterated PNG government support for Indonesian sovereignty in West Papua.
But his government supports calls for the office of the UN Human Rights Commissioner to have access to the remote territory, which Indonesia applies tight restrictions on.
Source: RNZ
The Free West Papua Movement has held a rare press conference in Papua New Guinea to call for international action on the conflict in Indonesian ruled Papua.
Representatives of the movement’s armed wing, the West Papua Liberation Army, gave an update about its conflict with Indonesian security forces in Papua’s central Highlands.
OPM spokesman Jeffrey Bomanak announced the Movement’s official support for the Liberation Army’s declaration of war against the Indonesian state.
He said the armed struggle to end Indonesian rule would not end until Jakarta agreed to meet for peaceful negotiations, for which the OPM is establishing a team of negotiators.
However, Indonesia’s government has previously ruled out negotiations with the OPM, which it brands as a criminal group.
Together with people from PNG’s civil society, the OPM and Liberation army representatives also discussed West Papuan independence aims.
While PNG’s government supports Indonesian control of Papua, MPs at the conference said there was a need to change the policy to help resolve the conflict.
The NBC journalist Rose Amos says the Governor of PNG’s National Capital District, Powes Parkop, was among them.
“Governor Parkop announced that he is working on a submission to move motion in parliament for a change in the (government) policy because he says PNG government’s existing policy between PNG and Indonesia is still in,”
Rose Amos said.
Source: RadioNZ
Port Moresby – Governor of Oro Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG) Gary Juffa said that the spearhead organization of the Melanesian group or often called the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG) could be of no use.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group is absolutely pointless if PNG and FIJI..the largest economies continue to turn a blind eye to the injustice by Indonesia and the world brutally dished out to West Papua and its people..— Gary Juffa – Political Agitator for the Indigenous (@hunjara) December 27, 2018
According to him, if PNG and Fiji continue to turn a blind eye to the injustices committed by Indonesia towards Papuans in West Papua, then MSG is of no use.
Gary Juffa is the Governor of the Oro Province in PNG. He is known to be very vocal regarding his solidarity on West Papua issues
A coalition of West Papuan organisations has been accepted into a regional grouping of Melanesian countries but denied full membership.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) applied to become a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
It had hoped membership would give it greater diplomatic recognition and focus more attention on human rights abuses committed by the Indonesian military and police.
But the leaders of the five members of the MSG decided at their summit in Honiara to give the movement observer status instead.
The MSG’s members are Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia’s independence movement FLNKS (Front de Liberation Nationale Kanak et Socialiste).
The group was formed in 1986 to support the decolonisation process and help regional liberation groups, but has since evolved into a regional body discussing trade and security issues.
The West Papuan representatives at the MSG summit had an opportunity to put their views on their new status in the final plenary session.
ULMWP secretary-general Octavianus Mote put a positive spin on the development, saying the diplomatic recognition would help them to focus international attention on human rights abuses in the province.
“For 53 years we have endured the most severe human rights violations — torture, killing, disappearance, rape, arbitrary arrest and detention — that the lives of at least 500,000 people have been taken, women, children and men,” he said.
“That is why today is so important to us.
“We might not be a full member of the MSG, but a door has opened to us. We will sit across a table from Indonesia as equal.”
However, Indonesia’s membership of the MSG was upgraded from observer status to associate membership, giving it a greater say in Melanesian politics than the West Papua grouping.
Fijian prime minister Frank Bainimarama, who had already put his view that Indonesia should be granted membership before the summit, said his vote was guided by “a number of overriding principles in approaching the West Papuan issue”.
“The first and foremost of this is that Indonesian sovereignty over West Papua cannot be questioned,” he said.
“The province is an integral part of Indonesia, so when we deal with West Papua and its people, MSG has no choice but to deal with Indonesia, and in a positive and constructive manner.”
He also said his decision was made in light of what he thought would help the West Papuans most.
Indonesia’s official representation on the MSG will be the governors of Indonesia’s five Melanesian provinces, known externally as West Papua.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo’s move in May to remove reporting restrictions in Papua was seen as a sign that Jakarta was easing its tight grip on the mineral-rich province, where poorly armed fighters have for years fought a low-level insurgency against the central government.
Mr Widodo has taken a keen interest in Papua, pledging to improve livelihoods in the heavily-militarised area which lags behind other parts of Indonesia in terms of development.
Jakarta took control of Papua, which forms half of the island of New Guinea, in 1963 from former colonial power the Netherlands.
A Papua New Guinea politician who has been very vocal in support of the West Papuan cause said the inclusion of both the United Liberation Movement for West Papua and the governors in the Melanesian Spearhead Group was a clever move.
Gary Juffa, governor of PNG’s Oro province, said he did not trust Indonesia’s motives, and believed West Papua was a free nation under Indonesian occupation.
But he told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat program that all parties now being part of the MSG might encourage positive dialogue.
“It gives ULMP a little bit of what they want,” Mr Juffa said.
“It’s a foot in the doorway, so they aren’t shut out, and that’s good.
“It also recognises and accommodates Indonesia as a sovereign nation, as it is recognised by the rest of the world.
“Even though the manner in which they have acquired West Papua was illegal, they are still recognised as a sovereign state and West Papua is a territory of theirs.”
Mr Juffa said there was always a need for dialogue and the MSG is a platform on which to have it.
Another strong West Papua supporter, Fiji’s influential Methodist Church, believes the inclusion of both the ULMWP and Indonesia could turn out to be a positive one.
Reverend James Bhagwan, secretary for communication and overseas missions for the Methodist Church, said while there were clearly problems with the decision, it may lead to political progress for the West Papuans.
Mr Bhagwan said the church had long been concerned about human rights abuses in West Papua, and it remained a key concern.
“Will what has happened alleviate that, or bring those human rights violations to a close?” he said.
“Or open the door for MSG members to go in with a peace keeping force or some sort of support to assist the West Papuans, who are suffering.”
PHOTO: Getting ready for the opening of the Melanesian Spearhead Group’s leaders summit in Honiara. (ABC: Liam Fox)
