Melanesian Unified Front for West Papuan Self-Determination
and the West Papuan Students Association of the University of Papua New Guinea
MEDIA RELEASE
EMBARGO: 12noon, Wednesday September 4th, 2013
The “Sorong to Samarai Campaign Petition in Support of West Papua’s Membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)and other human rights matters relating to West Papua
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Date: Monday, September 9th, 2013
Time: 6pm to 8.30pm
Venue: Main Lecture Theater, University of Papua New Guinea (Waigani Campus)
Previous attempts by West Papua to gain membership in the sub-regional forum, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) have always been unsuccessful. West Papuans have no representation in the MSG. Meanwhile documented and undocumented human rights abuses continue to be committed against them on their land, threatening their very survival as a people.It is now a matter of utmost urgencythat the heritage and identity of West Papuans as a Melanesian people is promoted within the forum of the MSG.
Recognizing the continuous struggle by West Papuans, and their very close historical, cultural and ethnic affinity with the rest of the other Melanesian nations of the Pacific Islands, the Melanesian Unified Front for West Papuan Self-Determination (hereafter MUF) is leading this series of activities.The primary focus is the grassroots-based “Sorong to Samarai” Campaign Petition In Support ofWest Papua’s Membership of the MSG. The “Sorong to Samarai” Campaign Petition will include awareness on the status of West Papua as an occupied territory and paper signature collection activity.
The MUF is a group comprised of concerned Papua New Guineans, West Papuans and other fellow Melanesians. We are initiating the “Sorong to Samarai” campaign with the aim of reinforcing the legitimate calls by ALL Melanesians for West Papua to sit at the table of the MSG with its other Melanesian brothers and sisters. We believe that Papua New Guineans must support the unconditional inclusion of West Papua within the MSG forum.
PNG is obliged to reciprocate the contributions by West Papuans to PNG’s national development, by lobbying aggressively for the long-overdue membership of West Papua in the MSG. The same sentiments must be shared by concerned and informed Papua New Guineans and other fellow Melanesians.
The calls for West Papuan inclusion in the MSG is a legitimate act. Under rights-based treaties such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the inalienablerights of peoples to an identity and a collective heritage is promoted. In Article 15 (1) (a) the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Parties to the Covenant recognize the right of everyone: “To take part in cultural life”.
West Papuans are distinctly Melanesians and they have historical, cultural and social connection to the greater Melanesian sub-region of the Pacific Islands. Formal membership of MSG by West Papua is not merely necessary, it is mandatory given the threat to the cultural survival and continuity of the Melanesian peoples in West Papua.
MSG membership will enable West Papuans to freely participate in expressing their cultural identity and existence as a Melanesian people. Any prolonged or continued denial of West Papuan membership of the MSG is an alienation of Melanesians from the larger Melanesian community, and ultimately the denial of their human rights as articulated in international treaties and conventions.The planned Monday, September 9th, 2013 event is being organized by MUF in coordination with the West Papua Students Association of the University of Papua New Guinea. This event was staged at the University of Papua New Guinea’s Main Lecture Theater from 6pm to 8.30pm. The “Sorong to Samarai Campaign Launch” also seek to address the human rights abuses perpetrated against Melanesians in West Papua with formal protests against foreign governments collaborating with the Indonesian State in its violation and exploitation of West Papuans on their land.
Citizens of Papua New Guinea and West Papua and throughout Melanesia, have the opportunity to express their support through this paper signature petition collection exercise. This activity will run throughout the course of the month of September. The signed petitions will be presented to government officials of PNG and MSG officials, and other notable members of the diplomatic corps in PNG.
For more information contact the following: Mr. Fred Mambrasar (Phone: 73338259 or Email: papuavoice13@gmail.com) or Patrick Kaiku (Phone: 72091654 or Email: Patrick.Kaiku@gmail.com) or Mr. Tony Fofoe (Phone: 7049 4380) or Jake Barusa for multimedia production on email papuavoice13@gmail.com.
2013 “Sorong to Samarai Campaign Petition in Support of West Papua’s Membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)
On this the……….day in the month of………in the year………., WE, the rightful inhabitants of Melanesia and concerned persons, in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the still-colonized territory now known as West Papua, demand for justice and observance of human rights in West Papua, and;
NOTING, the urgency of acting in solidarity and collectively, seek to raise awareness on the plight of Melanesians in West Papua and a resolution of theirlong-term political status as a people,and;
RECOGNIZING, that West Papuans are a people endowed with inalienable rights, henceforth;
DEMANDING, now the duly mandated Government of Papua New Guinea, and the sovereign Parliament of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea to address forthwith;
I. PETITION AGENDA 1: Members of Parliament in the 9th Parliament of the democracy-practicing, Sovereign Independent State of Papua New Guinea exercise their freedom of conscience and expression in supporting a Parliamentary motion on West Papuan self-determination.
A) Recognizing the sovereignty of PNG’s Parliament as the highest law-making entity in the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, whose representatives are duly mandated by the people of Papua New Guinea, a conscience vote on the status of West Papua will signal Papua New Guinea’s genuine interest in the plight of Melanesians in West Papua.
B) Papua New Guinea must take a leadership role in promoting greater awareness on the plight of West Papuans.
C) Moving a motion on the floor of PNG’s highest law-making arena, allowing individual MPs to vote on the subject of West Papuan self-determination and West Papua’s long-term political status and;
II. PETITION AGENDA 2: The Prime Minister and government officials of the government of the democracy-practicing, Sovereign Independent State of Papua New Guinea support West Papua’s unconditional inclusion as a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
A) Papua New Guinea’s support for West Papua’s membership in the MSG is in the national interest of Papua New Guinea and its obligations as an independent Melanesian State and a member of the global community.
B) Rights-based treaties such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provide standards for civilized societies. West Papuans are distinctly Melanesian and Pacific Island peoples. West Papuans have strong historical, cultural and social connection to the greater Melanesian sub-region of the Pacific Islands.
C) In consistent with the aforementioned Covenant articulating the fundamental human rights of peoples and nation, support for West Papua’s membership of the MSG reinforces the need for West Papua to engage with its Melanesian brothers and sisters as as a formal member of the MSG.
D) Formal membership of MSG by West Papua must enable West Papuans to freely participate in expressing their identity as a Melanesian people, and must promote the interests and concerns that are unique to their identity as a Melanesian people.
THERE’S ALWAYS REASON BEHIND EVERY ACTION
Everything happens for a reason and everyone does something for a reason. It is the reason that we have (whatever reason that may be) that triggers us to do something or behave in a certain manner. It is the reason that motivates or drives us to do the things that we do.
For instance, our gatherings and or meetings are convened due to certain reason that actually brings us together – for a common purpose. And I believe that as West Papuan freedom fighters, one of our most important reasons among the many others why we are fighting for our freedom is the fact that we are struggling to survive as human beings in our own land. We strongly feel that we do not somehow naturally fit in well in this society because it is obvious that our cultures and traditions are completely different from that of the rest of Indonesia. We feel that our rights to live as people have been unnecessarily tampered and terribly affected by the decisions of certain individuals who are in the decision making authorities, whose hearts are filled with greed and ignorance, hatred and jealousy. And as a result it has actually suppressed and demolished and restricted our freedom to live as human persons. It was because of this fact that our forefathers have tried to be separated from the rest of the Indonesian society. Unfortunately, the attempts were not successful due reasons which no longer valid. Most of the International communities are turning a blind eye on us and our cries for help are falling on deaf ears.
Since we the people of West Papua are different from the rest of Indonesia, it is just fitting and right that we should be left alone to manage our own affairs without any threat and intimidation from Indonesia. And most importantly it is our right to preserve our cultures and traditions and maintain our identity as Melanesians. Apparently, we also do have the rights to be free from any form of suppression and dominion, cruelty and exploitation, fear and intimidation, anarchy and intolerable state of living. The situations that our people are facing today are unbearable and painful. Therefore, my reasons for wanting to be part of the team to continue the journey are as follows:
1. We must come to terms with one another and put aside our differences and work in collaboration with all the existing groups within our circles, so that we can effectively voice/raise our heartfelt and genuine concerns – to have a part to play in the world; to meaningfully contribute at the international level in addressing the crisis the world is facing today – HIV/AIDS; poverty, gender equity, etc – and above all, to live peacefully as one people in the one community – the world.
2. We the young people who have been given the privileges to be educated abroad (PNG, UK, Australia, America, Netherlands, etc) must work as a team, a result driven team, to effectively address the situations that our people are going through in a more systematic and proactive manner. Prioritize the agendas and strategically address each of them so that the outcomes are evidently achieved.
3. We must be able to work with those who are willing to bestow their helping hands to help us address our situations. We must be open minded and accommodating in terms of ideas and tactics or diplomacies to help us effectively function and progress as a team to avoid unnecessary hindrances.
This is to say that it is nothing to do with gaining fame and power; authority and dominion; rather, it is all about our survival in the world as people. We, the people of West Papua, need acceptance and not just recognition but also that our people need freedom to move about the world and do businesses just like everyone else in the world.
I am ready and willing to sail on but I need a boat on which I could be a part of the journey, with one captain to help safely navigate through the turbulences of the rough seas of socio-economic and political differences in the world; the captain should be “the driving force – the reasons for our struggles – that should bind us together as one and set us to take on a common course for a common purpose so that we arrive at the destination safely. The captain should not be a person.
There are always a start and a stop; a beginning and ending to something. If there is no beginning, then, obviously there is no ending. Our forefathers have begun this journey of struggle for freedom; it is therefore, our prime duty as young people of this Unique Melanesian family – West Papua, to see to it that there must be an ending to this struggle.
I would like to express, on behalf of my brothers and sisters who have gone through the education system in this country, our sincere heartfelt gratitude to the Government of this sovereign nation, Papua New Guinea, for giving us the second chances to be educated, especially to the families who offered their homes, their time and resources – money – to help us get through our education successfully. We salute you wholeheartedly and acclaim your greatness and gracious act of love and acceptance as Melanesian brothers. May God, our God, continue to bless your sovereignty as a nation and open your eyes to see the needs of your fellow Melanesian brothers and sisters around you and others who are also in need around the world; and give you the strength to continue to extend your helping hands to them; God Bless us all!!!
By Jake Barusa – Port Moresby, 2013