Honiara, Jubi – Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neil has commented on the involvement of two Papuan governors, Lukas Enembe and Abraham Ataruri, in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.
“What we are trying to do right now is to find an organization that can represent West Papua in MSG,” O’Neil said on Wednesday (24/6/2015) before leaving PNG to Honiara, Solomon Islands to attend the MSG Summit on 25 – 26 June 2015.
O’Neill said those who represent the people of Papua must have a mandate to be chosen and pointed to represent Papua. O’Neil also denied that the MSG leaders forget about West Papua, which is actually part of Melanesia. “All of us want West Papua is with us, like what we did wit Kanaki people. But we must do it properly,” he said.
He further explained about his meeting with the Indonesian President Joko Widodo that mentioned about 11 million of Melanesians live in five Indonesian provinces. But, Vanuatu Church Leader Bishop James Ligo declined the Indonesian President’s claim.
“How could the MSG leaders give a place to Indonesia as observer in MSG while it’s actually not Melanesian but not give a chance to West Papua that is truly Melanesian?” Ligo told Jubi (24/6/2015).
Ligo reminded the Melanesian leaders that MSG is “sacred nasara” that means it is only for Melanesian, not for foreigner like Indonesia. “If MSG involved other nation, how could we said it is Melanesian Spearhead Group?” said Ligo.
Meanwhile Ligo said thousands of petition signed by Papuans through United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) was evidence that Papuan people give their mandate to ULMWP. “ULMWP has chosen by Papua people as their leader to represent Papuan people and they are Melanesian. They supposed to represent Papua in MSG. Indonesia could be registered as MSG member because they are not Melanesian. It’s so simple,” Ligo said. (Victor Mambor/rom)
