Belden Namah' s call also underpinned the international best - practice in which any nation in the international system with UN sanction or not can invoke the Responsibility to Protect or R2P Doctrine.
The story of the fraud of West Papua is the reason why Vanuatu is seeking a UN resolution on the Melanesia's biggest nightmare.
And, the tiny Pacific Island nation is taking on Indonesia to voice both assert universal truths and to deflect messy realities before the world forum. It would be ahead of PNG to bend backwards for West Papua as a matter of moral obligation, and to invoke the R2P Doctrine.
In the 1960s, the UN with US collusion termed West Papua as a 'cancer that must be surgically removed.' If so, PNG would be a cancer also. This is the setting on the story of the fraud of West Papua.
Namah earned his space and profile as a militant nationalist who challenged PNG's Parliament to embrace both the anthropological perspective and R2P of the UN. The question is if indeed West Papua was a cancer in the 1960s, and today. http://www.thejakartapost.com/…/is-a-un-resolution-papua-im…
On Thursday last week 27 July 2018, as Parliament met for its second week of the July Session, NCD Governor Powes Parkop asked Foreign Affairs Minister Minister Rimbink Pato to clarify his statement made to Minister Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister on PNG's position on West Papua.
Rimbink Pato was voicing the second of the Oneill/Abel regime's statements on the road-map for freedom for West Papua, that PNG recognised West Papua as an integral part of the Republic of Indonesia.
The first approach or statement on West Papua was a refined one on the Rimbink Pato stunt following Prime Minister Peter Oneill's announcement to the international community and media in Fiji whilst on an official engagement to the island nation. It was a continuation of the position first vocalised by Peter Oneill since 2014.
For the world watching PNG on its approach to the plight of fellow Melanesians in West Papua, Oneill's statement to the National Leaders' Summit in 2014 that the time had come for PNG to support the independence struggle meant a complete reversal of its approach of previous decades since 1960s. The British parliament was pointing out the way forward already.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/may/06/jeremy-corbyn-on-west-papua-uk-labour-leader-calls-for-independence-vote
Perhaps the world was stunned, including Indonesia, because the announcement now reflected the perception of the international community and therefore the progress made so far by the civil society groups inside West Papua, and outside in the diaspora to progress the road map for independence as opposed to Indonesian government strategies to contain separatism by Melanesians on the platform of continuing with policies of integration.
Peter Oneill was determined to address the plight of Melanesians, and his approach seemed to be about a need to consult with Indonesia on a scheduled timetable for self - determination for West Papua. It differed with the betrayal by the Dutch and the Americans.
Peter Oneill and Rimbink Pato are both PNG statesmen who must be at peace in dealing with the biggest nightmare in Melanesia left behind by the corrosive effect of colonialism.
Papuans on the PNG side of the Papuan border are relatives and neighbors to fellow Papuans and Melanesians across the border. NCD Governor Powes Parkop has questioned the betrayal by Rimbink Pato after Prime Minister Peter Oneill gained a lot of hard yards on the West Papua issue.
Thus, the continued betrayal is underlined by one of PNG's two positions on West Papua since 1960s and independence in 1975.
In terms of the progress made by Papuan independence civil society groups inside West Papua and on the world stage, including at the UN General Assembly, PNG Statesmen could be better sensitive to making an assessment of the West Papua issue with a view to consolidating the way forward, rather than to destroy the momentum.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop whilst putting the question on West Papua to PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato said:
'We can’t call ourselves Melanesians, Christians and neighbour and maintain such immoral or unethical position. It is taken from a position of fear and weakness and on moral or ethical courage and conviction!'
The pain of our people or West Papua is loud and clear, and the lamentation of fellow Papuans and Melanesians who feel the pain of ultimate betrayal by PNG since the 1960s when the UN dream of an independent Papuan nation did not work out for Papuans across the border is a curse for their own brothers and sisters of PNG.
Nonetheless, the standard script shows a general trend that is valid due to academic and social science discourses since 1960s on West Papua.
West Papua Issue - the Standard Script
Talking Points:
1. Mention that the West Papua Leaders Unification Summit from 30th November to 4th December 2014 in Port Vila, Vanuatu, was one of the many steps to consolidate MSG's agenda on West Papua.
2. Place on record and thank all non - state and state actors for their support of the West Papua people's just cause for independence over the years, with MSG observer status approval an indication that state actors in the MSG and PIF sub -regional and regional forums have put themselves in a position to support West Papua reach its objective to self - determine a political future.
3. Say that the MSG position on West Papua independence issue comes in the wake of an upsurge of international support in recent years for Indonesia to consider the option for self - determination , and it would underpin the new foreign policy on West Papua that PNG's leading politicians including the Prime Minister who has applied politically - correct language to consider one of the most contentious foreign policy objectives to be pursued or otherwise during his tenure in office.
4. Say that the groundbreaking announcement by Prime Minister Peter Oneill during the National Leaders Summit early in 2014 in which he declared he will do more to promote the cause of Melanesians living in Indonesia's restive province of West Papua comes as the strongest statement by PNG on West Papua by any prime minister since independence.
5. Say that PNG is now leading Melanesians as a race, who bottled up frustration to see so much suffering.
6. Reiterate where Indonesia is coming from in that post- Suharto Indonesia is now a member of the international community in good standing, despite its ongoing rights violations in West Papua and is seen as a democratic example to the Muslim world, a bulwark against China, and an important front in the 'war against terrorism.'
7. Review the recent developments on the struggle for freedom by West Papua since 1 July 1971 and say that the quasi - state proclaimed in waris has successfully connected with state and non - state players throughout the world, including MSG, and overcoming the many disadvantages relative to East Timor's struggle is only mechanical, a matter of time.
8. Emphasise that since 1 July 1971, the TPN/OPM forces never stopped fighting, gentle as a dove and fierce as a flam, and had come to terms with the fact that the extent of international efforts to push the agenda for West Papua's freedom was not there for many years, but as emotions pour, it is MSG's job to ensure an effective international response to Indonesia's 60 - year illegal and claim to rule and sovereignty over West Papua.
9. Pose that the MSG leaders' summit focused on empowering Papuans. Then, self - rule?
10. Conclude by repeating the PNG position on West Papuan self - rule was expressed by Prime Minister Peter Oneill in his address to the Fiji Parliament in July 2018 that PNG is a regional leader besides Australia and New Zealand, and encourages the reinstatement of West Papua as a Non - Self Governing UN Trust Territory on the list to go before the UN Decolonisation Committee of 24 for debate as to its future at the UN General Assembly.
Indonesia’s Challenges — from poverty to Papua
The consolidation of democracy in Indonesia since the end of authoritarian rule in 1998 is a major achievement. Indonesia's challenge is to make more of its enormous potential, and spreading the fruits more widely. But, it depends on more vigorous leadership, a critical impetus because he promised much for West Papua than has been evident over the past 15 years.
President Joko Widodo or Jokowi has raised hopes for West Papua in the past but failed. But, in a 'democratic' or 'democratising' Indonesia he stands out as the only leader of the largest Muslim nation in the world to veer away from militarism and embrace democracy known in the free world. If he prevails in next year’s elections, the big question remains if he can overcome a dysfunctional system and deliver.
PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato's wish to support Indonesia and its dysfunctional system for whatever reason is to prolong its illegal claim to sovereignty over West Papua which may or may not yield because the tide of history is turning in favor of West Papua.
And, the pace of internationalisation of the issue of independence struggle by fellow Papuans and Melanesians shows that PNG's diplomacy has the advantage of being matured by the process of internationalisation of the West Papua issue, a mutation.
This writer's take on Rimbink Pato's latest stunt on regional diplomacy on West Papua is this. Actually, PNG is deceiving Indonesia on West Papua.
A Lamentation By Frank Makanuey - a prayer for West Papua
The statement by Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato to discredit Prime Minister Peter Oneill emphasised the countrys diplomatic relationship with Indonesia and the benefits of APEC and therefore assumption of economic prosperity of Papua New Guinea.
Yet, the focus on APEC generates a corrosive effect like colonialism did for the past decades since 1960s. For instance, West Papua gets shelved and betrayed going by the prompt from Rimbink Pato's antics as PNG's leading statesman on foreign policy on West Papua.
A Christian PNG is getting its prayer wrong, and the praises are just satanic verses. Let us look at the facts.
Frank Makanuey has evaluated the betrayal by Rimbink Pato and refers to the extent to which the indigenous Melanesian people of PNG can enjoy the lasting and permanent freedom they deserved and rightfully earned and continue to enjoy the opportunity to protect their ancestral flora and traditional fauna, their ancient songs and dances, their chants and rituals, but neglect to assist their brothers and sisters, the indigenous people of West Papua of the same which is the most saddest act of human betrayal and rejection.
Firstly, it is an act of betrayal and rejection because the Pato Thesis directly contradicts the very core of our social binds, connection, lineage of sharing, caring, giving, the ultimate wantok system that makes us distinct from other cultures that we so proudly advertise and applaud.
Secondly, it is an act of betrayal because anthropological perspective to the West Papua issue is about a people united by bloodline, in which the natural environment of the isalnd of New Guinea and the politics of its thousands of Papuan tribes on both sides converge.
It is therefore about indigenous Melanesian brothers and sisters who must stand up instead of letting their ancestral floral, traditional fauna, ancient songs and dances, their chants and rituals be contaminated, diluted and dominated by an alien and superior indigenous race in the multi cultural arena. Ultimately, it is a form ethnic cleansing in the name of economic prosperity.
Thirdly, it is an act of betrayal because the Pato Thesis is causing Papuans and Melanesians to live with a painful heart everyday and having to look away when it is too much, and to cry, so no one can see the tears for freedom and the not demise of fellow Papuans, tribesmen, relatives, wantoks, who cannot enjoy the opportunity to protect ancestral forest, and sea, traditional food, culture, way of life and tradition.
Finally, it is an act of betrayal because the government of Papua New Guinea does not speak for the people throughout the country who know the story of West Papua. And, their prayers are for West Papua to be free one day. Every night the prayer is to progress the road map for West Papua's independence, and for God to recognise freedom's call for West Papua.
It is long past time for the 'midnight cry' the world refused to hear in 1969 to be shifted from the bottom of God Almighty's intray.
Come down to the wire, diplomacy is a continuation of war. If war is the art of deception, PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato is fighting his own demons.
The ultimate challenge for him is to write the satanic verses for his private gain as he prays for West Papua.
