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
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“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.”
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Hon. Hilda Heine, President
of the Republic of the Marshall Islands
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“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.”
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Hon. Enele Sosene Sopoaga, Prime
Minister of Tuvalu
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“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.”
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Hon. Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas,
Prime Minister of Vanuatu
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“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.”
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Hon. Manasseh Sogavare, Prime
Minister of Solomon Islands
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“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.”
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Hon. Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pohiva,
Prime Minister of Tonga
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“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.”
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Dr Caleb Tyndale Okauchi Otto who
is the permanent representative of the Republic of Palau
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“We join with others to advocate
for a resolution to the problems in West Papua through in-depth and
constructive dialogue.”
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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
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