Filep Karma – Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi – Papuan political prisoner Filep Karma said the Melanesian Spearhead Group would not be complete without the full membership of West Papua.
“The forum will be be whole as MSG without West Papua because it has one less member of Melanesian family,” Filep Karma told Jubi on Tuesday (23/6/2015).
The MSG members include Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji Islands and Kanaks Front of New Caledonia.
Karma was put in jail after giving a speech on the marginalization of indigenous Papuans and flying the Morning Star flag at Abepura Ground on 1 December 2004. He was arrested and convicted of treason and sentenced to 15 years in prison by Abepura District Court.
This week, the MSG leaders representing Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu. Fiji and Kanaks Front of New Caledonia hold the meeting in the Capital of Solomon Islands, Honiara.
West Papua Will Take Observer Status at MSG
The Secretary General of United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Octovianus Mote, said West Papua would take the observer status at Melanesian Spearhead Group.
However, it would fight to get full membership, Radio New Zealand reported on Wednesday (24/6/2015).
Mote said the membership of West Papua is strongly needed in MSG to highlight human right violations in Indonesia.
However, he said the final decision is in the hands of the Melanesian leaders.
“We will take any kind position that was thought by the MSG leaders as the best, but off course, as the political leader, I will fight for full membership because we knew it is the only way to stop the crime against humanity,” Mote said.
Up to now, at least two countries have encouraged ULMWP to obtain a status as observer, which is Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. While Vanuatu, which gave its support towards West Papua since Moana Karakas and Joe Natuman eras, now under Prime Minister Sato Kilman, its commitment is questioned.
Meanwhile, RNZ reporter Dorothy Wickman who attended the opening of MSG Summit on Wednesday morning (24/6) reported the place of meeting had fully tension between the delegations of West Papua and Indonesia who attend the meeting.
“At podium you can see the Indonesians seated at one part while West Papuans took the separated seats that already arranged. People form Solomon Islands are on the street keep talking about the fact that Indonesia is an Asian country, so why they should be accepted in MSG? So, it could be raised as an issue in MSG,” Wickman reported.
The summit of MSG leaders held in this week in Honiara would determine the quality and quantity of supports from Melanesian in the Pacific region over the struggle of the Papuan people. (Yuliana Lantipo/rom)
