Basil urges West Papua sympathizers to address the issue instead of posting gruesome graphics

Papua New Guinea Deputy Opposition Leader and Member for Bulolo, Sam Basil is urging West Papua sympathizers to collectively address the issue instead of posting one-off horrific and gruesome graphics of unverified activities allegedly committed in West Papua to garner support or to steer anger among the population.

“On the issue of West Papuan refugees I had raised with domestic and international media about their treatment in PNG where they are left to fend in the bushes of West Sepik and Western Province without processing by United Nations High Commission for Refugees. Those who want to become PNG citizens have waited for over 10 years but they do not have the K10, 000 fee whilst our Citizenship Committee has given naturalised status to people who have the money to pay and have not lived many years like those from West Papua.”

Also, I had questioned why PNG and Australia have decided not to process West Papuan Asylum seekers like everyone else at Manus rather than deporting them. On the processing of West Papuans as refugees and citizens, the Government needs to take a position on the matter.

In recent months, several parliamentarians with Facebook pages were inundated with gruesome graphics of alleged atrocities in West Papua, and urging as well as accusing us of not taking appropriate actions.

Despite that I am one of 111 Members and being in the Opposition, do not allow us the opportunity or the resources of Government Ministers to engage in fact-finding trips or bilateral discussions. Therefore, we don’t have the capacity and resources to independently verify or authenticate the source of these gruesome graphics.

There are moves by Hon Powes Parkop and recently by Hon Gary Juffa and members of the community and NGO groups seeking signatures of concerned Papua New Guineans to present to the United Nations condemning these alleged atrocities and other issues.

Papua New Guinea, as a sovereign state is represented by Hon Peter O’Neill and Hon Rimbink Pato as Minister for Foreign Affairs to deal with such matters. In recent months, they have been involved with the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Pacific Islands Forum as well many international and bilateral engagements. I believe they have met with their Indonesian counterparts, and may have raised these issues, especially oppression of the West Papuans. The Government has to present its Reports and Treaties regarding the issue as well as meeting in Vanuatu for organising a Unified Voice or Entity for West Papua in MSG.

“I urge the West Papua sympathizers, human rights advocates and other interested NGO’s and relatives living in Papua New Guinea to properly and formally raise your concerns regarding this issue with the government, which includes the Opposition. As Members of Parliament, we will deal with the matter when it is presented as Petitions, Reports, Treaties or Ministerial Statements in our debates and take a position as Independent State of PNG”.

As a Member of Parliament I cannot talk about alleged activities or gruesome photographs which are neither verified nor aware of its source and this can only be done through our Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Let us deal with it in organised manner.