Melanesia Weekly update ⋅ July 25, 2018 NEWS Melanesian Spearhead Group failing - Ralph Regenvanu Radio New Zealand Vanuatu's Foreign Minister says he's lost faith in the Melanesian Spearhead Group because of a lack of consensus and political engagement. Flag as irrelevant See more results | Edit this alert You have received this email because you have subscribed to Google Alerts. Unsubscribe | View all your alerts Receive this alert as RSS feed Send Feedback
Earlier this year, Hawaiʻi joined the Polynesian Leaders Group, a sub-regional organization in the Pacific modeled on the Melanesian Spearhead Group. But the MSG is having its problems and the Foreign Minister of Vanuatu now says the organization is failing.
Back in 2015, the Melanesian Spearhead Group made what may prove to be a fatal compromise. At a summit meeting in the Solomon Islands, leadership agreed to admit the United Liberation Movement of West Papua as an observer and, at the same time, raised Indonesia’s status from observer to associate.
The deal papered over a fundamental contradiction: The ULM is fighting to establish an independent state in the western half of New Guinea, land that Indonesia regards as its sovereign territory.
The three small members of the MSG side with their Melanesian cousins; the two bigger members with Indonesia and the split keeps widening.
Papua New Guinea, which occupies the eastern half of New Guinea, supports Indonesia, but, earlier this month Prime Minister Peter O’Neill fudged that. In a speech in Fiji, he urged regional countries to take the issue of West Papua to the United Nations.
On a weekend visit to Jakarta, Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato clarified what he called misreporting. He said Papua New Guinea’s position on West Papua has not changed and, he added, “there is no intention of changing it.”
Ralph RegenvanuCREDIT MARKE LOWEN, RALPH REGENVANU / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Vanuatu is among the MSG countries that support the United Liberation Movement.
This week, Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu expressed his frustration and disappointment to an Australian think tank. “That consensus approach to decision making is failing in the MSG.” he told the Development Policy Centre, “Vanuatu’s been consistently saying that it’s not happy with the way decisions are made.”
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Source: https://www.radionz.co.nz/ The Solomon Islands has welcomed 1500 participants to this year's Melanesian Arts and Cultural Festival in Honiara.
The festival, held every four years, aims to promote and preserve Melanesian culture, as well as celebrate unique differences between participating nations.
This year's theme is Past Recollection for Future Connections.
A Fijian cultural dancer at the 6th Melanesian Arts Festival in Solomon Islands. Photo: Today Solomons
The Solomon's director of government communication, George Herming, said hosting the event brings many benefits.
"Through cultural interaction and creating knowledge and understanding of different Melanesian cultures which has resulted in a common understanding between participants as well as governments of Melanesian countries."
"So that's one of the benefits and the other economic benefits of hosting the festival is that it generates revenue," he said.
Cultural performers from Vanuatu at the 6th Melanesian Arts Festival in Solomon Islands. Photo: Today Solomons
George Herming said the festival features cultural dance and music performances, as well as culinary arts and fashion.
The Solomon Islands was the first Melanesian Spearhead Group country to host the festival back in 1998.
Opening night of the 6th Melanesian Arts Festival held in Solomon Islands. Photo: Today Solomons
