MELBOURNE: As the Melanesian Speahead Group meeting goes ahead in Suva, an Australia-based pressure group is calling for full membership for West Papua.
In an open letter to the leaders of the MSG, the Australian West Papua Association argues that as Indonesia now has observer status, the West Papuans should also get a seat at the table.
In the letter, they argue that addressing the issue of West Papuan independence is crucial to stability in the region.
Rex Rumakiek is secretary-general of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation and he says most MSG members support the push for West Papua's inclusion.
Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Rex Rumakiek, secretary-general of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.
Listen to interview
RUMAKIEK: The role of the MSG is actually to help issues like New Caledonia or West Papua for example to get their issues, the desire for independence, addressed properly by members of the organisation.
COUTTS: Why do you want to be a member of MSG though?
RUMAKIEK: We actually wanted to be member of MSG because that was the basic principle for the establishment of this organisation. You remember when the Kanaks or New Caledonia applied for membership or wanted to get independence, Vanuatu decided it would take it to the United Nations because they could not discuss it properly at the Pacific Islands Forum. That's when they established this body so the Western countries can sit together with New Caledonia and Kanak people and discuss their plan to get to the United Nations. And we hope that Melanesian countries can do the same thing for West Papua. And we have no objection to people like Indonesia or even Australia being post-dialogue partners, but not to become members.
COUTTS: So you see it as a stepping stone to perhaps membership of the Forum?
RUMAKIEK: I feel it is indeed.
COUTTS: Now what statement do you think's being made that Indonesia has been allowed observer status to the next MSG meeting, but Papua hasn't?
RUMAKIEK: Well, I think it is basically this Bainimarama, the Prime Minister of Fiji's agenda, that they bid so heavily for the Melanesian countries to accept Indonesia to be an observer.
COUTTS: Have they actually answered your request yet to be observers at the next meeting?
RUMAKIEK: Last meeting I remember in Vanuatu before, at the previous MSG meeting, our case was discussed at a ministerial level, and we hope that this time it will get through.
COUTTS: Have you had any dialogue, I mean how have you gone about asking for permission to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group at its next meeting as an observer?
RUMAKIEK: The secretariat is based in Vanuatu and they have beem discussing it with the Vanuatu government and Solomon Islands government, and almost all the members of the body, that it is our intention that this year we should be allowed to become a member.
COUTTS: But I'm just wondering how the negotiations are going? Are you getting any feeling at all for how it's going? I mean are they more for it or more against it?
RUMAKIEK: I think the majority actually wanted us to be part of it, but it was the effect the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Somare, who actually objected to the issue.
COUTTS: And what are his objections?
RUMAKIEK: Well, we cannot be sure but we think it was because of pressure from Australia or Indonesia that Papua New Guinea won't allow West Papua to become a member of the MSG.
COUTTS: So are you saying that it's come down to Sir Michael Somare saying no, that it's not a majority vote, it has to be consensus?
RUMAKIEK: That's correct, because all the process of consensus goes to the fore, I think the majority will allow us to get in.
COUTTS: Would that mean that the Chair, which would be Commodore Frank Bainimarama have the final say?
RUMAKIEK: That's right, that's correct.
COUTTS: And have you approached him directly?
RUMAKIEK: We have in fact.
COUTTS: And what's his response?
RUMAKIEK: Well, not directly though, but we have approached him in the past, he was very interested in the issue, but of course at government to government level negotiations, I think they have naturally have more opportunity than us.
COUTTS: And what statement, I think I've asked you this before, what statement do you think they're making by allowing Indonesia observer status and not West Papua?
RUMAKIEK: That is exactly what we are asking as well, we don't understand the criteria how they allow permission to come in, because if they want to allow the same I think they'll have to propose that Australia also if they use the criteria, because there are Melanesians in Indonesia, and then there are also Melanesians in Australia, so they should also come in as well.
COUTTS: And Luxembourg's been given observer status?
RUMAKIEK: That's another issue, we don't understand why Luxembourg [gained] observer status.
COUTTS: Why do you think they want it?
RUMAKIEK: I'm not so sure.
COUTTS: What will this do for West Papua do you think, that if you can't get onto bodies like the MSG? I know you say it's a stepping stone to the Forum, but what exactly is it you're going to get out of it? Are you going to forge more trading partners, what are you looking to get out of this?
RUMAKIEK: Well basically the principle of the MSG is to discuss the issues like people wanting to become independent states like New Caledonia, West Papua, East Timor before. So they can discuss them properly like a family. And our purpose of getting in there was that we can discuss our plan, how we want to get to the United Nations, so the Melanesian countries can take West Papuan issues to the United Nations.
COUTTS: Well, you've drawn comparisons with Kanak movement in New Caledonia, New Caledonia has observer status. Have you made those comparisons in your application to become observers this time, that there are similarities?
RUMAKIEK: Yes in fact that was the reason we have applied for this for a long time, we have been doing that sort of comparison, because that was the reason why they established this body.
COUTTS: And without West Papua do you think the Melanesian Spearhead Group does call into question the notion of Melanesian solidarity?
RUMAKIEK: I think indeed it should be questioned. If they allow internationals to come in, I feel they should allow people from the provinces of West Papua or Papua to come in, not Indonesians.
COUTTS: Well what's your next step? Have you approached Sir Michael Somare yourself to try and convince him that you should be given observer status?
RUMAKIEK: In fact, we've done that in the past and we will be doing that as well. - Radio Australia Pacific Beat/Pacific Media Watch
Pacific Media Watch
