Flags of MSG countries (Jubi)
Jayapura, 11/1 ( Jubi ) – Secretariat of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG ) declared their objection to engage in the Indonesian government invitation to visit Indonesia and West Papua, as this visit to Indonesia, including West Papua have swerved from the resolution of the leaders of MSG countries in Noumea, New Caledonia, last June.
Jubi’s informant at MSG secretariat said countries visit who are members of the MSG to Indonesia is Multilateral, not MSG’s visit as decision in a resolution MSG’s leaders in Noumea last year.
“The visit to Indonesia is to promote economic cooperation and development. It is more multilateral visit, not a visit entitled Melanesian Spearhead Group. The theme of this visit turns out from the resolution decided by the leader of MSG in Noumea last year,” a source informant said on Saturday (11 / 01 ).
Because of the different purpose and objective of the MSG’s resolution, the source added, MSG Secretariat has expressed their objections. MSG Secretariat also attended a technical meeting on this visit, which was attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Papua New Guinea , Solomon Islands and Fiji. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister of Vanuatu also did not attend this meeting . Vanuatu is only sending the Hon Joe Natuman ( Vanuatu special envoy for decolonisation ) to attend .
In contrast, based on previous information received from Vanuatu Foreign Affairs Minister, Joe Natuman said that the Foreign Minister of Papua New Guinea , Solomon Islands and Fiji will also visit Papua province. The three countries is scheduled to meet the Governor of Papua and Papua Legislative Council (DPRP) on January 13 in Jayapura. However Natuman added this is just a visit to Papua to meet with the provincial government and the DPRP alone, not meeting with civil society such as the church, the Indigenous Peoples or Political Prisoners.
“Vanuatu is still waiting the final statement on the agenda in Papua from MSG chairman , Victor Tutugoro. If a meeting is only done with the government alone, Vanuatu likely will refuse to get involved,” Said Natuman to Jubi ( 11/1 ) .
The Head of West Papua Mission in Vanuatu, Andy Ayamiseba confirmed the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs from three Melanesian countries . According to Andy Ayamiseba, he has met with Government of Vanuatu and MSG Secretariat in Port Villa,Vanuatu on Friday.
“MSG secretariat rejects this visit because it does not conform with the spirit of the resolution of the MSG leaders meeting. They do not follow the MSG technical staff . Three Ministers of Foreign affairs will come with their team excepted the Foreign Affairs Minister of Vanuatu. The Minister of Vanuatu refused to attend the same reason .” Said Andy Ayamiseba.
Yet, according to Andy Ayamiseba, Vanuatu sent a Special Envoy for Decolonisation to come to the meeting . Vanuatu is also still waiting for a definitive answer to meet civil society, including political prisoners from MSG chairman, Victor Tutugoro . Andy Ayamiseba added that in this visit, the Government of Vanuatu objected to the offer of a Joint Statement prepared by Indonesia and the Government of Fiji and Papua New Guinea. One article in the Joint Statement mentioned in the Melanesian countries ( who are members of the MSG ) should not interfere Indonesia ‘s internal problems.
In accordance with invitation requests received MSG Secretariat, its schedule in Indonesia are as follows :
1. January 11, the delegations arrived in Jakarta
2 . January 12, the delegations meet with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and in the late afternoon the delegations will meet with Indonesia businessmen . 3 . January 13, the delegation arrived in Papua and will meet the Governor of Papua and the DPRP
4 . January 14, the delegations visit Ambon and meet the governor and the DPR
5 . January 15, the delegation meet with Indonesia President, SBY, then signing a Joint Statement that has been prepared by Jakarta with the collaboration of the Embassy of Fiji and PNG in Jakarta .
In June 2013, the leaders of the MSG countries have signed a Joint Communique which one of these statements is about the application of WPNCL as a representation of West Papua . Point 20 and 21 of this Communiqué have been decided that :
1 . The MSG leaders of countries noted roadmap in relation to the application of West Papua National Coalition of Liberation ( WPNCL ) for membership should be based on clear and measurable schedule .
2 .The leaders also recognize that human rights violations need to be highlighted, and to progress the application WPNCL, it is important to continuously engage with Indonesia .
3. The leaders agreed to establish a process of dialogue and consultation with Indonesia .
4. The leaders noted and welcomed the invitation from Indonesia to invite the Minister for Foreign Missions ( FMM ) which will be led by Fiji which is a confirmation of the mission time is still awaited .
5. Decisions on applications will be determined by the WPNCL / after reports of the mission FMM .
In this communiqué the leaders of the MSG countries have also decided :
( i ) AGREED that MSG fully supports the rights of the West Papua People to self-determination as set out in the preamble of the constitution of MSG ;
( ii ) AGGREED that the MSG concerns about human rights abuses and other forms relating to atrocities against West Papuans will be submitted along with the Indonesian government on a bilateral basis and as a group
( iii ) NOTED that the application of WPNCL to be a member of MSG has been accepted and the application will be reviewed after the filing of the report FMM , and
( iv ) AGREED roadmap as recommended by FMM include :
a) That the MSG mission sent foreign ministers at the level of the FMM led by the Foreign Minister of Fiji to Jakarta and then to West Papua in 2013 and received an invitation from the Indonesian government .
b) Foreign Minister ‘s mission will present its report to the leaders of the MSG at the first opportunity in the next six months .
c) WPNCL will be formally notified of the decision regarding the application of MSG leaders, and
d) Mission will be part of the process of determining the membership application WPNCL. (Jubi/Victor Mambor/Tina)
