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Vote of No Confidence, Geopolitics & West Papua

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Prime Minister James Marape’s leadership will be tested when Parliament proceeds with a Vote of No Confidence next Thursday 12th September 2024.

The Tari-Pori MP has welcomed the Opposition’s alternate nominee for the Prime Minister’s post, Finschhafen MP, Rainbo Paita.

In the weeks leading up to Parliament this week, Prime Minister James Marape travelled abroad for bilateral meetings with leaders in the region.

Indonesia’s President-Elect, Prabowo Subianto also paid PM Marape a courtesy call in Port Moresby in August before the incumbent President’s inauguration next month.

Both leaders touched briefly on West Papua, the indigenous peoples sharing a land border with PNG and fighting for Independence from Indonesia since the 1960s.

Speaking to the media before leaving for the Pacific Island Forum in late August, PM Marape said, West Papua is within the sovereignty of Indonesia so it was responsible for addressing issues relating to sovereignty in West Papua.

While Indonesia’s President-Elect welcomed PNG’s insights on West Papua hinting greater respect for indigenous views on customs, culture, land rights and the preservation of indigenous heritage; these views have been met with skepticism by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua. A Netherlands based Independence movement group.

Its international spokesperson, Raki Ap said of the visit by the President-Elect, “He is doing his best to travel the region to win the hearts and minds, basically buy time to create more injustice to West Papua.”

Raki Ap said an independent West Papua will change geo politics in the region. Climate change will be high on the agenda delivering cutting edge indigenous proposals.
West Papuan leaders abroad are actively campaigning a free West Papua as the Green State.

ULMWP President, Benny Wenda also welcomed the recent Pacific Island Forum call for Special Envoys and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visit to West Papua.

The Independence Movement Group wants to be active in the Pacific and especially within Melanesian countries. In PNG, it wants to convince political leaders to change the position of classifying West Papua as an internal matter for Indonesia.

All remains to be seen given PNG’s economic hardships and political maneuverings on the eve of a Vote of No Confidence against Prime Minister James Marape.

He asked the people to remain united as leaders consider who will best guide the country into the 50th anniversary next year and beyond.

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International

Graphic Video Surfaces: West Papuan Man tortured and Beaten to Death

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A Papuan activist holds up a separatist 'Morning Star' flag during a rally in 2019. West Papuans have accused the Indonesian military of widespread abuses in the province. Photograph: Dita Alangkara/AP

A disturbing video has emerged on social media, and going viral depicting the brutal torture and eventual death of a West Papuan man at the hands of his captors. The victim, whose crime remains unknown, was brutally beaten while bound and confined within a 44-gallon drum, leaving him with no chance of escape from his tragic fate.

Frank Makanuey, a Papua New Guinean citizen of West Papuan descent, has voiced his outrage and concern over the treatment of indigenous people by Indonesian soldiers.

He highlights that this atrocity and incident is in violation of the New York Agreement, an agreement signed over 69 years ago in secrecy between the US, the Netherlands, and Indonesia, paving the way for the occupation of West Papua in 1963. Makanuey said the original intent and purpose of the New York Agreement is not to exact human rights abuses.

Frank Makanuey being interviewed by Inside PNG News crew
Frank Makanuey

Mr. Makanuey condemns this barbaric act as a crime against humanity, yet laments the world’s indifference towards the atrocities faced by the indigenous population of West Papua in their struggle for freedom.

The footage, showing Indonesian soldiers inhumanely assaulting an unarmed man trapped in a drum, serves as a damning indictment of the ongoing crimes against humanity in the region.

Blurred video shows the barbaric torture of the man by Indonesian soldiers.

Since the implementation of the New York Agreement and Indonesia’s prolonged dominion and occupation over West Papua, countless such atrocities have unfolded, claiming the lives of thousands of indigenous Melanesian individuals.

Mr. Makanuey said further that crimes against humanity have long been outlawed by the United Nations, following the atrocities of World War II.

He calls for an immediate cessation of aggression against the indigenous people of West Papua, asserting that their right to self-determination supersedes Indonesia’s domestic affairs and warrants intervention by the United Nations.

As a respected West Papuan community leader, Mr. Makanuey urges the United Nations General Assembly to take decisive action and grant independence to the Melanesian people of West Papua, in accordance with its Human Rights Charter that was ratified in 1948.

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News

West Papua Community Told Not to Raise Flag

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The West Papua Community in Port Moresby that attended a West Papua family Day Organized with the support of Governor of the National Capital District Powes Parkop, were warned by Police not to raise the Morning Star Flag that has been the symbol for West Papua’s want for Self Determination.

Frank Makanuey a Community Leader within the West Papua Community in Port Moresby was present at the West Papua Family Day celebrations and he and others Present were not too pleased when Police told them they were not allowed to raise the West Papua Morning star flag.

For West Papuans in Indonesia that do fly the West Papua Flag they are arrested for treason, the flag was first raised on the 1st of December in 1961 West Papuans used the flag to represent their nationhood to the world, translating their desires for freedom and self-government into a form made clear to the world and to the United Nations.

The Family Day was held at the Drill Hall at the University of Papua New Guinea, on Saturday and Governor of NCD Powes Parkop was the Guest Speaker during the event, the day served as a gathering of the West Papua Community, in Port Moresby to Promote and uphold their values and heritage.

Related: https://insidepng.com/west-papuans-in-port-moresby-host-family-day/

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Arts & Culture

West Papuans in Port Moresby Host Family Day

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West Papuan Family Day

Those with West Papuan Heritage, their families and supporters of the Liberation of West Papua, gathered in Port Moresby, on Saturday, for a West Papua Family day.

The day was marked with a walk within the University of Papua New Guinea Campus, with families taking part in the walk, Governor of the National Capital District Powes Parkop who has been a long time supporter for the self determination of West Papua took part in the days activities.

The family day was held at the UPNG Drill Hall and was organized with the support of Governor Powes Parkop, the walk culminated into a session of speeches and a day filled with families and individuals sharing in the Culture and food of their West Papua heritage.

Powes Parkop has his links back to West Papua Indonesia through his grand parents, he said he has been a strong supporter for the Self Determination of West Papua since his high school days.

Papua New Guinea being the closest neighbor to Indonesia and sharing the Border with West Papua, those living in diaspora and have become citizens of Papua New Guinea, always hope the best for their families that still live in Indonesia, and as part of diplomatic talks between the two nations of PNG and Indonesia, most feel that PNG must continue to address issues that affect the people of West Papua.

Governor Parkop says that he is ready to Visit Indonesia once a PNG Delegation is confirmed to Visit.

Indonesia is expected to hold its elections in the coming weeks and most in Indonesia and outside of the region, believe that there should be a boycott of the elections by those indigenous to West Papua.

Related: https://insidepng.com/marape-clears-statement/

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International

Marape Clears Statement

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West Papua

Prime Minister, James Marape says he wants to set the record straight on his meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo regarding the West Papua Issue.

Marape claims an earlier statement regarding PNG’s position to abstain from supporting West Papua United Liberation Movement (WPULM) for a full fleged membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) was released without consent.

In an effort to rectify the misinformation and alleviate concerns raised within the MSG, Marape released another statement to address the inaccuracies.

PNG Prime Minister James Marape

“An earlier statement released without consent wrongfully said that at the recently-concluded MSG Leaders’ Summit in Port Vila, Vanuatu, I informed leaders of PNG’s abstaining from supporting the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) bid for full membership, plus a notation that human rights issues in West Papua are of no concern to PNG. I wish to clarify these misconstrued assertions.” said Marape.

Marape corrects that, “Papua New Guinea never abstained from West Papua matters at the MSG meeting, but rather, offered solutions that affirmed,” said Marape.

Marape made these comments during the bilateral meeting with President Widodo in Jakarta and stressed the respect PNG government has towards Indonesia’s sovereignty, territorial rights but Human Rights is a different issue.

“When matters concerning ULMWP’s application for membership was raised, I indicated that the presence of Indonesia on MSG as an Associate Member and ULMWP as observer is sufficient for the moment. MSG has placed a moratorium on new membership until the criteria for membership is reviewed,” Marape said

Marape said President Widodo has assured him that all is okay in the two Papuan provinces and invited senior government members to visit it’s Papua Province..”

West Papua
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PNG’s Stand on WPULM’s Bid

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PNG Prime Minister James Marape, said PNG had abstained from supporting the West Papua United Liberation Movement (WPULM) full membership bid to join the MSG during the recently concluded Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leader’s Meeting in Vanuatu last month.

Marape made these comments in Jakarta yesterday, during his meeting with Indonesian President, Joko Widodo as a reciprocal visit by the Indonesian President to PNG in July.

Marape said West Papua ULM does not meet the requirements of a fully-fledged sovereign nation and Indonesia’s associate membership status also as a Melanesian country to the MSG suffices which cancels out West Papua ULM’s bid.

Marape went on to say the alleged human rights issues in West Papua the PNG Government had no moral grounds to comment on human rights issues outside of its own jurisdictions.

In response President Widodo said PNG Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, will be invited to visit Papua Province to see what development is taking place in that region of Indonesia.

Widodo spoke of Indonesia’s commitment to building trustful and cooperative relations with countries in the Indo-Pacific region and extended an invitation to Pacific Island Countries Leaders to attend the Archipelago Island States Forum this October.

Other discussions between the two leaders include;

  • Ratification and implementation of visa on arrival agreement for diplomatic and service passport holders, and agree that this be also extended to ordinary/private passport holders.
  • The establishment of travel routes of the direct air services/flight between Denpasar in Bali and Jacksons International airport in Port Moresby.
  • The opportunity for downstream processing gold from copper is immense which both leaders agreed to explore.
  • Increase number of Papua New Guinean students to study in Indonesia.

Prime Minister Marape is expected to fly off to France after his visit in Indonesia.

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Review Border Agreement

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Papua New Guinea is expected to review the land boundary it shares with Indonesia’s West Papua Province.

Foreign Affairs Minister Justin Tkatchenko before travelling to Jakarta yesterday, said PNG is now able to discuss this with Indonesia after Parliament passed the Basic Border Agreement.

“The Basic Boarder Agreement which opens the way now for all parties to come on board and review the Basic Border Agreement and talk about our boundaries, talk about our trade, talk about our traditions, our culture, and our people”, said Tkatchenko.

This is the second visit to Jakarta where Tkatchenko is expected to discuss issues like the PNG Defence Force and Indonesian Defence Force Cooperation Agreement and have open discussion on the West Papua issue.

“The Foreign Minister and I will also be discussing about West Papua. And as I have stated already, Indonesia is a sovereign country, and we respect Indonesia. If there are any issues Indonesia wants us to get involved in with West Papua, we are more than happy to support,” Tkatchenko said.

Since the first visit by Minister Tkatchenko in December 2022, both Governments have been working on improving economic, security, social and traditional ties between the two countries.

In the recent Parliament Sitting, the National Executive Council also approved the Reciprocal of Rectification for Visa Exceptions for Indonesian diplomats and government officials entering both countries.

“So the green and red passports for all the secretaries, government officials that we have in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia and all the diplomats we have in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, we can travel to each country freely with visa on arrival, ” said Tkatchenko.

Tkatchenko departs Indonesia on Wednesday.

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