Tuesday 1 November 2016

The “Magnificent Seven” Pacific Countries Support West Papua at the UN!

The “Magnificent Seven” Pacific Countries Support West Papua at the UN!

(Is Australia a Little Brother or a Big Brother?)


History was made at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2016 when seven Pacific Island nations raised the plight and struggle of West Papua.


When you hear Pacific Island civic leaders speak (i.e. Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Organisations (PIANGO)) you see that these are people of integrity, they know that what is happening in West Papua is wrong and they are going to support and lobby their governments to free West Papua!  They are operating in stark contrast to big powers on the UN.

Following is a summary of speeches supporting West Papua at the UN.

Hon. Baron Divavesi Waqa, President of Nauru
“Nauru is deeply concerned regarding the situation in West Papua including the alleged human rights abuses. As emphasized in the Pacific Islands Forum Communique. it is important that there be an open and constructive dialogue with Indonesia on this matter.”
Hon. Hilda Heine, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
“Given the importance of human rights to my country I request that the UN Human Rights Council initiate a credible and independent investigation of alleged human rights violations in West Papua.”
Hon. Enele Sosene Sopoaga, Prime Minister of Tuvalu
“The principle of self-determination must also be respected and honoured. The violation of human rights in West Papua and their desire to achieve self-determination is a reality. This great body cannot and must not ignore these deplorable situations; it must not hide behind the guise of the principles of non-interference and sovereignty.”
Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, Prime Minister of Vanuatu
“The people of West Papua have turned towards the United Nations and they are looking for a light of hope a hope for freedom and exercising their own rights upon their own land to freely affirm their identity. I urge the United Nations to make this one of its initiatives of Human Rights above all.”
Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands
“Human Rights violations in West Papua and the pursuit for self-determination for West Papua are two sides of the same coin.   Now if the jurisdiction of sovereignty rests on a series of decisions that are questionable then there is a case of legality of the argument of sovereignty as is the case of the New York Agreement and the Act of Free Choice.”
Hon. Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva, Prime Minister of Tonga
“We express for the welfare of the Pacific peoples that are residents and citizens of West Papua… Last year on this same podium I stood here and spoke about human rights abuses taking place in Indonesian ruled West Papua. In the year that has passed nothing appears to have changed in that place.”
Dr Caleb Tyndale Okauchi Otto who is the permanent representative of the Republic of Palau
“We join with others to advocate for a resolution to the problems in West Papua through in-depth and constructive dialogue.” 

  

This was a truly landmark moment in the growing support for West Papua’s freedom.  With growth like this West Papua’s freedom has moved from Impossible to Inevitable.


“What is the Australian Government doing?”


All of this international support begs the question “What is the Australian Government doing?”  Supporters for West Papua all around the world are watching Australia and asking the question “Can the Australian WP supporters change the heart of the Australian Government?”

The FWPP believes that for Australia to achieve its potential it has to stop seeing itself as a little brother to the US (and its business interests) and truly see itself as the Big Brother to the Pacific Islands.  Benny Wenda has on more than one occasion said that West Papua sees Australia as its Big Brother.  It is time that Australia starts behaving like a Big Brother.  Australian Torres Strait Islanders are related to West Papuans and so Australia is undeniably joined to its Pacific Brothers.  It is time to stop ignoring this!  A major part of the problem is that several US based multi-national companies are big donors to both the Australian Labor and Liberal political parties and so our government is bought off by US business interests in Indonesia, and the like.

We need a government that has more integrity and values human rights above political donations.

Indonesia’s Response


In response to the actions of the seven pacific nations Indonesia stated that the actions were:

“A violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity”


The FWPP states that the Indonesian government has invalidated all of its ‘sovereign rights territorial integrity’ by its atrocious human rights violations.  From what the FWPP has determined it is as if every island within the Indonesian archipelago has a history of massacre or genocide at the hands of the Indonesian Military.  If you want to hear first-hand what it is like to be ruled by Indonesia just speak to an Australian soldier who helped liberated East Timor they’ll no doubt tell you about the inhumanity of the Indonesian Military. 

Here’s a short list of some of the Indonesian Military’s atrocities:

  • West Papua ‘Genocide’ 500,000;
  • East Timor ‘Genocide’ 200,000;
  • Chinese ‘Genocide’ 2,000,000;
  • Maluku 700,000 refugees;
  • Aceh 100,000 refugees; and the list goes on.

A government with a human rights record like this has absolutely zero legitimacy to ‘sovereign rights and territorial integrity’.  Instead, this behaviour is typical of a mercenary force protecting the interests of big business.

Paul Madden, Leader of the West Papua Party

Links: