STATEMENT
MADE BY DR. OTTO ONDAWAME, VICE CHAIRMAN OF WEST PAPUA NATIONAL
COALITION FOR LIBERATION DURING THE PLENARY SESSION OF MSG MEETING IN
NOUMEA, KANAKY-NEW CALEDONIA.
Noumea, 21st June 2013.
Excellency
Victor Tutugoro,Chairman of MSG and Spokesperson for FLNKS, Hon. Moana
C. Kalosil, Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Hon. Gordon D. Lilo, Prime
Minister of Solomon Islands, Commodore J.V.Bainimarama, Prime Minister
of Fiji, Hon. Lilo Gion, Deputy Prime Minister of PNG, Sir Michael
Somare and Hon. Ham Lini two of the founding fathers of MSG and all
Foreign Ministers, Eminent Persons Group of MSG, National Council of
Chiefs of Kanaky, Diplomatic corps, inviting Guests .
Let
me congratulate you Excellency Tutugoro for new position as Chairman
og MSG. We are very happy to work with you in this challenging time.
Ladies and Gentlemen.
First
of all, I would like to thank the organizing committee- FLNKS and MSG
Secretariat in Port Vila, Vanuatu for inviting West Papua National
Coalition for Liberation to not only participate this historical meeting
but also give us an opportunity to raise the silent voices of the
forgotten struggle of fellow Melanesians in West Papua for the first
time in the history of West Papua and MSG.
I
would like to thank this opportunity to express our congratulation to
His Excellency Victor Tutugoro for becoming new Chairman of MSG. We
trust you that MSG under your command will work hard to facilitate the
aspiration of the people of West Papua.
63
years ago, our grandfathers as a member of Pacific Community come to
Noumea and participated in the first meeting of South Pacific
Commission. Today, new generation of West Papua come to this same city
as a lost son of Melanesia asking for help to return home- to Melanesian
family.
Exactly 50 years ago, West Papua was forcibly in cooperated into Indonesia.
Now, the people of West Papua are still struggling against one of the
most brutal military regime in the world-the Indonesian colonial power
to liberate West Papua.
The
issue of West Papua has always been considered to be delicate if not
much more complex to handle it by many governments, including members of
our immediate families in the Melanesia for obvious reasons. As
consequences of the Indonesian occupation in 1962, our traditional ties
with the rest of Melanesian family have been cut off for more than five
decades. The Papuans have become much more isolated than ever.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To
bring back the lost son- West Papua into the rightful Melanesian family
has been long and painful indeed. Today, our Melanesian brothers and
sisters have stood firm and opened their hands and doors welcoming the
lost son- the people of West Papua, giving new hope and opportunity to
achieve our common objectives: to restore peace, justice, freedom,
democracy, social progress, and most importantly, to restore, maintain
and strengthen our Melanesian cultural values from total destruction.
Furthermore WPNCL will fully cooperate with all members of MSG to
restore stability and security in our immediate region-Melanesia and
Pacific. We must work together to defend our Melanesian identity and
dignity because these are those strong foundations for our Melanesian
survival and respect.
Granting
Full membership in the MSG provides new hope for the future. Under the
principle of “Melanesia for Melanesia” we can collectively stand
together to defend our Melanesian fundamental values in all costs.
However, such dream and hope cannot be achieved as long as the colonial
power remains in West Papua, as long as our immediate region becomes new
heaven for many interest groups.
Today,
time has come to say loudly and proudly to the world -who we are and
what we can do and at the same time we can offer to the world peace,
stability and security. The future of Melanesia is in our own hands. We
must unite and find a viable alternative to solve one of the longest
conflicts in Pacific.
Road
to achieve those dreams are still far away and complicated. However,
the Papuans trust you, all members of MSG. Through you and with you MSG,
we can surely bring some fundamental change in West Papua and the rest
Melanesia and Pacific. From this perspective, to be a full membership in
MSG is considered to be the first step in our endeavour, opening new
prospects for the future.
I call upon all leaders of MSG as members of United Nations and G77 to take decisive actions:
(a). Put all efforts to re-inscribe West Papua into the list of Decolonization Committee this year.
(b).
Send fact-finding mission to West Papua to monitor and investigate
the current situation in the territory, notably the issue of human
right abuses. Such mission can only be sent when firstly WPNCL becomes
full member of MSG in order to avoid any unnecessary conflict on the
ground in West Papua.
Now, let me introduce our organization. West Papua National Coalition for liberation (WPNCL).
West
Papua National Coalition for Liberation consists of 29 member
organizations, which is an umbrella organization that plays important
role to bring together and then unify common perceptions, national
unity, internal reconciliation and consolidation. The Coalition has a
clear vision, mission leadership, policies, program and action plans. We
are very proud that, WPNCL was born from Papuan own initiative and hard
work in the past five years. The improvements of organizational
structure and its leadership have been paramount. Today, WPNCL gains
much more support than ever coming from broader masses both inside West
Papua and abroad. This demonstrates the Coalition has a solid
foundation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I
take this opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation to the
governments and people of Melanesian countries for your endless support.
We also express our special thanks and appreciations to the FLNKS and
people of Kanaky for your support and hospitalities while we are staying
in this beautiful city-Noumea. Equally importance to thank you to
leaders of MSG-Fiji, Vanuatu, Kanaky, Solomon Islands and PNG who voted
for WPNCL, granting Full Membership in MSG. We also express our special
thank to the government of Vanuatu who made possible for us to attend
this historical meeting. We also would like to thank and express our
appreciation to MSG Secretariat in Vanuatu for your encouragement and
advice. Furthermore, we would like to thank to Eminent Persons Group of
MSG for your trust us to contribute valuable opinions for the future
MSG. We also thank you to all supporter groups in West Papua and abroad
for their support WPNCL becomes Full member in the MSG. Last but not
least, we would also like to thank you all the participants who attend
this historical meeting today for your support
Leaders
of Melanesia, today you have created history. You have decided that no
more Melanesian fathers and mothers in West Papua will burry their
children for standing for Melanesian freedom in West Papua. For those
who have die in the past 50 year under the most brutal military regime
of Indonesian colonial power are not forgotten. Their blood and tears
were not shed for nothing. West Papuan fathers, mothers and their
children will forever indebt to you all.
Merdeka/ Freedom is certain!!!
Long Live West Papua!!!Long live Kanaky!!!!Long Live Teo Mahoinae!!!!
Long Live MSG/MelanesiaLong Live Pacific!!!!
Dr. Otto OndawameVice Chairman of the WPNCL
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