Vanuatu Applauds PM O’Neill for West Papua Call
Papua New Guinean leaders have, for many years, remained silent, under difficult circumstances, and the statements made by PM O’Neill last week at the PNG Leaders’ Summit is being applauded by Vanuatu, who have been very vocal about West Papua.
Vanuatu's Prime Minister, Kiery Manassah, said that Papua New Guinea’s support was crucial for West Papua’s bid for membership at the Melanesian Spearhood Group (MSG).
Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said: "Our own brothers, especially those in West Papua. The time has come for us to speak of the oppression of our people there. Pictures of brutality of our people appear daily on the social media and yet we take no notice.
“We have a moral obligation to speak for those who are not allowed to talk; we must be the eyes for those who are blindfolded. Again, Papua New Guinea, as a regional leader, must take the lead in mature discussions with our friends and more so in an engaging manner,” said O’Neill.
The Vanuatu government says it is open to dialogue with Indonesia, over the West Papua bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group. PM Manassah says that Vanuatu respects its diplomatic position with Indonesia, but will never accept rights abuse against fellow Melanesians.
"Even though in terms of the level of support (for West Papuan rights) at the grassroots level is quite big, but at the top level it's unheard of for Papua New Guinea to speak out. So for them to come out through Prime Minister Peter O'Neill to condemn the abuses is a welcome stance, and we just hope that they will continue to push that forward," said Manassah.
"If there is a need for dialogue with Indonesia, of course we believe that now the Indonesians are part of the MSG, they could play a role in there we believe that as long as the rights of the indigenous West Papuans continue to be infringed, we will continue to support them in relation to their fight to attain self-determination."
In 2013, West Papuan freedom fighters urged Papua New Guinea to be the first to take a stand against the injustice suffered by the people of West Papua. The Free West Papua Campaign has its head office based in Port Moresby. Tony Fofoe, a Free West Papuan Campaigner in Papua New Guinea, had called on the government to grant full membership to West Papua to become a member of the Melanesian Spearhead group.
Oro Governor, Gary Juffa, also welcomed the announcement but wants more from Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister.
Juffa has called for PM O’Neill to sign his petition to the United Nations; the petition demands for the reversal of the Act of Free Choice 1969. The governor is rallying for more support from Papua New Guineans and has shared the petition on his social media page. Find Governor Juffa's petition here.
"It's good to see the Prime Minister getting on board with the West Papua issue. Now we have to take it further. We have to demand that the UN review its 1969 decision and give freedom to the people of West Papua. Nothing else, we demand freedom," said Juffa.
PNG Today /EMTV
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