Indonesia has invited the foreign ministers of four
Pacific Island countries to visit its two easternmost provinces, Papua
and West Papua, to see for themselves if the people want independence.
The offer is something of a diplomatic manoeuvre, successfully delaying
any consideration by the Melanesian Spearhead Group of an application
for full membership by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.
Source: Correspondents Report
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Duration: 5min 11sec
SIMON SANTOW: Indonesia has invited the foreign ministers of
four Pacific Island countries to visit its two easternmost provinces -
Papua and West Papua - to see for themselves if the people want
independence.
Those two provinces are the western half of the main island of New Guinea.
This offer is something of a diplomatic manoeuvre, successfully delaying any consideration by the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the MSG, of an application for full membership by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.
Pacific correspondent Sean Dorney went to the two yearly meeting of the leaders of Melanesia's sub-regional organisation, held this year in New Caledonia.
SEAN DORNEY: Twenty-five years ago, the four independent countries in Melanesia - Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea - created a sub-regional organisation, the Melanesian Spearhead Group and one of its aims was to help the Melanesian people of New Caledonia, the Kanaks, get their independence from France.
That has not happened yet but France did agree to allow the Kanak independence movement, the FLNKS (Le Front de libation nationale kanak et socialiste), to take up full membership of the Melanesian Group.
Now, the Melanesian independence movement in West Papua - the Indonesian half of the main island of New Guinea - wants to join.
At the MSG's plenary session in Noumea, Dr Otto Ondawame, the vice chairman of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, put their case.
OTTO ONDAWAME: Our delegation come here as the lost son of Melanesia, to come here to ask for your support. We must unite and find a viable alternative to solve the longest conflict in our region.
SEAN DORNEY: Indonesia took control of what had been to then Dutch New Guinea in 1963 and six years later gathered just over 1000 tribal leaders together to vote in favour of becoming part of Indonesia.
It was called an 'Act of Free Choice' which the United Nations accepted.
Paula Makabory, from the Institute of Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, was part of the West Papuan delegation
PAULA MAKABORY: Yeah, I think with all of this, the MSG recognise that the Act of Free Choice was a shameful choice for West Papua.
(Dancing and singing at Official Opening)
SEAN DORNEY: At the official opening of the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders meeting, the outgoing chairman, Fiji's military commander and prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, spoke of unity.
FRANK BAINIMARAMA: As a result of our shared vision for closer regional integration, MSG solidarity has never been stronger.
SEAN DORNEY: But Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Peter O'Neill, visited Indonesia instead of attending the MSG meeting while his stand-in, the deputy prime minister Leo Dion made it clear to the other MSG Leaders that PNG regarded West Papua as an integral part of Indonesia.
Fiji revealed that Indonesia had offered to host a visit by Melanesian foreign ministers and so Fiji suggested the membership application by the West Papuans be put on hold.
Vanuatu's prime minister Moana Carcasses made an impassioned plea on behalf of the West Papuans, and Sir Michael Somare, invited as an elder statesman, summed up the situation well although he was not referring directly to West Papua.
SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: In Melanesia we are also very divided. We are not united. We have to unite. The only course we can take is when we are united people you can beat your enemy.
SEAN DORNEY: In the end the communiqusaid the West Papuan's application would be considered after the foreign ministers of the MSG countries visited Indonesia.
However, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu insisted on the inclusion of two critical sentences. The first said that "Leaders endorsed that the MSG fully supports the inalienable rights of the people of West Papua towards self-determination..." and the second said the Leaders agreed that "the concerns of the MSG regarding the human rights violations and other forms of atrocities relating to the West Papuan people be raised with the government of Indonesia".
SEAN DORNEY: The reactions of the West Papuan delegation to the Communiquwere mixed. Dr Otto Ondawame was relieved.
OTTO ONDAWAME: We are very happy that our application has not been thrown out, but is still there on the agenda of the MSG.
SEAN DORNEY: But the secretary-general of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, Rex Rumakiek, doubted the value of a ministerial trip to Indonesia.
REX RUMAKIEK: They will come back empty-handed. They won't see the people they really want to see and that means it's a waste of time. Better to make a decision right now instead of going to Indonesia.
SEAN DORNEY: Melanesian foreign ministers' visit to Jakarta and the Papuan provinces should take place before the end of the year.
This has been Sean Dorney for Correspondents Report.
Those two provinces are the western half of the main island of New Guinea.
This offer is something of a diplomatic manoeuvre, successfully delaying any consideration by the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the MSG, of an application for full membership by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.
Pacific correspondent Sean Dorney went to the two yearly meeting of the leaders of Melanesia's sub-regional organisation, held this year in New Caledonia.
SEAN DORNEY: Twenty-five years ago, the four independent countries in Melanesia - Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea - created a sub-regional organisation, the Melanesian Spearhead Group and one of its aims was to help the Melanesian people of New Caledonia, the Kanaks, get their independence from France.
That has not happened yet but France did agree to allow the Kanak independence movement, the FLNKS (Le Front de libation nationale kanak et socialiste), to take up full membership of the Melanesian Group.
Now, the Melanesian independence movement in West Papua - the Indonesian half of the main island of New Guinea - wants to join.
At the MSG's plenary session in Noumea, Dr Otto Ondawame, the vice chairman of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, put their case.
OTTO ONDAWAME: Our delegation come here as the lost son of Melanesia, to come here to ask for your support. We must unite and find a viable alternative to solve the longest conflict in our region.
SEAN DORNEY: Indonesia took control of what had been to then Dutch New Guinea in 1963 and six years later gathered just over 1000 tribal leaders together to vote in favour of becoming part of Indonesia.
It was called an 'Act of Free Choice' which the United Nations accepted.
Paula Makabory, from the Institute of Papuan Advocacy and Human Rights, was part of the West Papuan delegation
PAULA MAKABORY: Yeah, I think with all of this, the MSG recognise that the Act of Free Choice was a shameful choice for West Papua.
(Dancing and singing at Official Opening)
SEAN DORNEY: At the official opening of the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders meeting, the outgoing chairman, Fiji's military commander and prime minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, spoke of unity.
FRANK BAINIMARAMA: As a result of our shared vision for closer regional integration, MSG solidarity has never been stronger.
SEAN DORNEY: But Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Peter O'Neill, visited Indonesia instead of attending the MSG meeting while his stand-in, the deputy prime minister Leo Dion made it clear to the other MSG Leaders that PNG regarded West Papua as an integral part of Indonesia.
Fiji revealed that Indonesia had offered to host a visit by Melanesian foreign ministers and so Fiji suggested the membership application by the West Papuans be put on hold.
Vanuatu's prime minister Moana Carcasses made an impassioned plea on behalf of the West Papuans, and Sir Michael Somare, invited as an elder statesman, summed up the situation well although he was not referring directly to West Papua.
SIR MICHAEL SOMARE: In Melanesia we are also very divided. We are not united. We have to unite. The only course we can take is when we are united people you can beat your enemy.
SEAN DORNEY: In the end the communiqusaid the West Papuan's application would be considered after the foreign ministers of the MSG countries visited Indonesia.
However, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu insisted on the inclusion of two critical sentences. The first said that "Leaders endorsed that the MSG fully supports the inalienable rights of the people of West Papua towards self-determination..." and the second said the Leaders agreed that "the concerns of the MSG regarding the human rights violations and other forms of atrocities relating to the West Papuan people be raised with the government of Indonesia".
SEAN DORNEY: The reactions of the West Papuan delegation to the Communiquwere mixed. Dr Otto Ondawame was relieved.
OTTO ONDAWAME: We are very happy that our application has not been thrown out, but is still there on the agenda of the MSG.
SEAN DORNEY: But the secretary-general of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation, Rex Rumakiek, doubted the value of a ministerial trip to Indonesia.
REX RUMAKIEK: They will come back empty-handed. They won't see the people they really want to see and that means it's a waste of time. Better to make a decision right now instead of going to Indonesia.
SEAN DORNEY: Melanesian foreign ministers' visit to Jakarta and the Papuan provinces should take place before the end of the year.
This has been Sean Dorney for Correspondents Report.
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