Vanuatu’s Compromise On West Papua Issue Unacceptable: Rarua

Vanuatu’s Compromise On West Papua Issue Unacceptable: Rarua

By Godwin Ligo

‘Oceania Decolonization Committee’ (ODC) president Shem Rarua said Vanuatu leaders compromising the nation’s stand on West Papua with the rest of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) members at the19th MSG Leaders’ Summit is “disappointing”.

He told Daily Post yesterday that while the MSG functions as a Group, the individual member countries have their own stand when it comes to such issues as the West Papua struggle for political freedom from Indonesia.

“To comprise Vanuatu’s position on West Papua issue with other Melanesian members is not acceptable,” he said.

“Many promises were already made to the West Papuan leaders by the Vanuatu leaders to grant them membership over the past few months.

“How can the Vanuatu Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs compromise the West Papua issue at this MSG summit which should have allowed full membership to the West Papua?” Rarua questioned.

“The Prime Minister and the Minister Foreign Affairs of Vanuatu have heard, seen and read more than enough of the brutality, killings and murdering of the West Papuan Melanesians reported in local, regional and international media every day as well as from the West Papuan leaders and people themselves.

“Then here we are Prime Minister Moana Carcasses and Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Natapei, have compromised and agreed with other Melanesian countries to visit Jakarta, Indonesia and West Papua for the proof, when you see the proof in all media outlets and even the Human Rights Organizations and the leaders of West Papua themselves every day.

“I wish to remind the two Vanuatu leaders at the MSG of what one of the founding fathers of this nation, the late Father Walter Lini said , ‘Vanuatu cannot be fully independent until all colonized people of Oceania and elsewhere are politically free’.

“I want the people of Vanuatu to know that the Vanuatu Government (leaders) does not support our stand for West Papua Call to be freed from the Indonesian military control.

“The ODC two fundamental principles are clear which are; ‘No Dialogue and No Referendum to be discussed with Indonesia’ by anybody.

“Even the Vanuatu Parliament unanimously approved West Papua issue to be taken up with the UN Decolonization Committee but all past and today’s government leaders have failed to fulfill this wish of the people of Vanuatu for West Papuan Melanesians,” the concerned ODC president said.

“The ODC was registered in 2009 and liaises closely with the West Papua National Consensus Leadership (NCL) working towards the political Independence for the West Papuan people.

“We were pleased to note earlier responses from the Vanuatu Government leaders when the West Papuan freedom campaigners visited Vanuatu.

“They promised the West Papuan leaders to have West Papua obtain full MSG membership in this Noumea summit. It has now turned out all differently, a lie to the Melanesians of West Papua.

“I could not sleep last night because Vanuatu Leaders betrayed our West Papua Melanesian brothers and sisters,” Rarua said.

ENDS

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