Vanuatu’s submission on the Impact of miliratism on Indigenous land of West Papua to the EMRIP and Periodic Review on Indonesia

Vanuatu’s submission on the Impact of miliratism on Indigenous land of West Papua to the EMRIP and Periodic Review on Indonesia (Shadow Report)

MILITARISATION OF INDIGENOUS LAND OF WEST PAPUA.

Vanuatu Free West Papua Association is forwarding this Petition to the UN Experts Mechanisms on the Right of Indigenous Peoples and the Universal Periodic Review on Indonesia (Shadow Report)

We have received reports from Indonesia Amnesty International and Transparency International that the human rights situation caused by the presence of Indonesian Military in West Papua is becoming worst. The situation currently is that:

• The Indonesian Government has banned internet access for Indigenous West Papuans.

• from the ground it is difficult to gather information due to reporting restrictions, placed on International journalists in the region 

• The increased Indonesian military deployment in West Papua since 2018 has resulted in around 2,000 casualties, displacement of around 50,000 civilians and 5,000 fled to seek asylum in PNG.

Indonesian Military to West Papua has also contribute as a resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and what has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people.

The Indigenous Melanesian People of the West Papua Province of Indonesia are regarded as minority ethnic group that needs to be free from genocides and inhuman treatments.

We reaffirm the Principles of the UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS that recognizes ‘the inherent dignity of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world’.

The Indigenous Melanesian people of West Papua are also part of that foundation of freedom, justice and peace of the Melanesian Archipelago. They are the Melanesian Indigenous minority under Indonesia regime, who have a right to freedom and self-determination as declared by the UN Resolution 15, 14 on decolonization.

We strongly affirmed that any development in the indigenous land of West Papua should apply the principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent of indigenous West Papuan as enshrines the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

IN THE TRUE SPIRIT OF SOLITARITY WE THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ENTIRE INDIGENOUS MELANSIAN PEOPLE:

We appeal to the International Community to:

1 Facilitate an urgent UN Human Rights fact findings mission to West Papua.

2 Send International journalist to West Papua to report on the current issues affecting the indigenous population.  

3 Mediate a peaceful transition for a free West Papua and

4 Up hold the principle of UN resolution 15,14 of 2000 to yearning West Papua to its freedom, and,

5 FINALLY, WE CALL UPON Indonesia to withdraw its administrative and military power from West Papua.

Dated 26th January 2022 in Port Vila, Vanuatu

Subject: West Papua: EMRIP and UPR Reports

Dear Leaders, 

Trust this year has begun well for all of us, wherever we are, while our thoughts and prayer goes out to families qnd loved ones affected by the pandemic the region, military operations in the central highlands of Papua and volcanic eruption in the Kingdom of Tonga.

This is a short notice but an important one, on submission of human rights reports on West Papua to the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) and the Universal Periodic Review on Indonesia (Shadow Report).

The EMRIP contribution reports are on the theme "The militarization of indigenous land: a human rights focus." The Expert Mechanism hereby requests contributions from Indigenous Peoples, States, National Human Rights Institutions, academics and other stakeholders for this report. 

Submissions should be sent by e-mail to ohchr-expertmechanism@un.org no later than 31 January 2022. A draft report will be introduced by the Expert Mechanism at its annual session to take place from 11 to 15 July 2022, after which it will be finalised and presented to the Human Rights Council at its 51st session in September 2022. Submissions are until 31 January 2022, and no longer than 5 pages. 

Meanwhile, the shadow reports for the Indonesia UPR is to be submitted on March 31.

With this, I would like to ask if any of our solidarity partners would collaborate with, or independently make submission to cover issues on impact of militarism on the internal displacement, the environment, on health, and women and children, and other sectors, while restating the recommendation for an OHCHR visit to West Papua, or an independent HR investigation in West Papua. 

Let me know if you are interested and what you think on how we could go about this. 

Warm regards,

K.r

MSG SECRETARIAT HOLDS 1st 2022 SENIOR STAFF MEETING

PORT VILA, VANUATU (24 January 2022): The first meeting of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat’s senior staff was convened today with an individual and organizational reflection on how it can better itself with its existing resources.

Acting Director General, George Hoa’au, challenged staff on how each can interact and deal with the Secretariat’s stakeholders as diplomats but achieve results as entrepreneurs.

He encouraged staff to continue to be competent and emphasized the need to continually accept change as without it there can be no progress. Furthermore, ADG Hoa’au touched on the importance of management leadership; self-responsibility; innovation; thinking on our feet and improvising with online resources.

The meeting agenda included the vision of the MSG Secretariat against expectations; Leadership Issues; holding a work-from-home mock event; having ICT as a platform for work; Annual Report; and Strategic Partnerships, among others.

It was also an opportunity for senior staff to briefly present their major work programme activities, how they would approach it and what events have been identified as priorities for the first quarter 2022.

Caption: Senior staff discussing their respective work programmes for the year.

Mugabe: When your salary comes in time,

When your salary comes in time, you eat chicken. As the salary reduces you eat products of chicken (eggs) and subsequently, you begin to eat 🐔 chicken's food like maize and Millet.

Finally when salary is finish, you become chicken itself. Spending your time walking around just looking for what to eat.

 

 Your salary is a seed that needs to be planted. It's important you take part of it and invest.

Salary alone cannot solve all your money problems. Create a plan B now. A Wise investment will provide opportunities for one to always eat chicken whenever he or she pleases!

 Think INVESTMENT_ because you won't be young for ever.!

  Think INSURANCE_ because you won't be strong forever! 

  Think ENTREPRENEURSHIP _ because you won't be employed forever.

   Have a wonderful Sunday, God bless you all 🙏🙏🙏

Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) Support for West Papua

Daily Post news

The Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) convened an urgent public meeting to petition Vanuatu government over alleged Indonesia infiltration in Vanuatu at 3pm today.

Petition

We urge Vanuatu Government to reaffirm its stands, as it stands in the global arena to advocate for human right abuses.

 Call on the Vanuatu Government not to establish Vanuatu diplomatic office in Jakarta, Indonesia.

 

Call upon Vanuatu Government to ban publication of Indonesian sponsored newsletter titled “West Papua Today” as it promote propaganda of Indonesian and provocate against West Papua.

Call on Vanuatu Government not to send scholarship students to study in Indonesia as those students will be brain washed by the Indonesian propaganda and will provocate against West Papua, as they have done in PNG, Solomon Islands and Fiji.. 

 END---

PM MARAPE PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE WORK OF LUTHERAN CHURCH IN PNG’S DEVELOPMENT

Approved for Release:

Waigani, National Capital District | Tuesday, 11 January 2022

PRIME Minister Hon. James Marape today paid tribute to the “great work” of the Lutheran Church in the development of the Papua New Guinea, while thanking missionaries from all churches in the country, both national and international, who have brought services to the people in rural areas to complement the work of the government.

In a message that spelt strongly of the uniting force of Christianity and the huge contribution of churches in uniting a very diverse people in nationhood, Prime Minister Marape acknowledged the work of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea (ELC-PNG) and all churches in the country.  

The Prime Minister was speaking today to thousands of Lutheran faithfuls who had travelled in to Port Moresby from throughout the country for the 33rd Evangelical Lutheran Church National Synod, being held at the Sir John Guise Stadium and hosted by the ELC-PNG’s Papua district.

Himself the son of a pioneer national Seventh Day Adventist missionary, PM Marape paid an emotional homage to missionaries who “ran ahead of government workers” before Independence and after Independence, into remote Papua New Guinea to bring God’s Good News and with it, services such as education and health.

“Before the presence of a government worker in many parts of our country, there were missionaries. They walked the length and breadth of our country not for money, fame, or personal earthly prosperity but they walked for love and service to humanity because they were serving the author of Love, Jesus Christ,” said PM Marape.

“Our country is littered with footprints of missionaries that had left the comfort of their homes overseas, to come into our country; and secondly, those from the coast, who became the first contact for those in our highlands areas.

“I want to pay respects to our churches for making sure that the fundamentals of our country is held together.

"It is fitting and right to give respect where it is due. Without the Christian perspective, we would be looking from 800 or so different perspectives. It is really the work of Christianity that has united our country at a deeper level, even further than the flag and the Constitution of the country.”

He said with a new generation of leaders coming into office, the Government is now working out policies to move the country more in line with the ideals of Christianity, such as the pronouncement to make PNG a Christian country, and the start of work to reverse the Death Penalty and install in its place, Maximum Penalty as commanded under the 10 Commandments.

The Prime Minister encouraged the ELC-PNG to continue with its services in health and education, and gave the Government’s support in this area.

He also mentioned the Lutheran University project, which has been shelved for some time. PM Marape encouraged the ELC-PNG to work together in unity to get this project off the ground.

“Lutherans, you are the second biggest church. You have a big place. Remain focused on the charter that you established as the Lutheran Church.

“The Government stands ready to give you the full support as we go into the future.”

NCD POLICE TO INVESTIGATE WOMAN’S TORTURE

The head of police in the National Capital District and Central Command has said that police will investigate and arrest everyone involved in the torture of an elderly woman accused of practising sorcery. 

Assistant Commissioner Anthony Wagambie Jnr said this happened at the Konedobu suburb over the weekend. 

He said the woman from Chimbu Province was accused of practicing sorcery on her son resulting in his death. 

ACP Wagambie Jnr said the woman was allegedly locked up and beaten for more than two days. 

He said a non governmental organization Tribal Foundation learnt of her situation and alerted police who then rescued the woman.

ACP Wagambie Jnr said Port Moresby is a metropolitan area and such beliefs should not be allowed to go unpunished by law enforcement agencies.

He said there is now an urgent need for all law enforcement agencies to carry out massive awareness on sorcery related violence and killings and educate people about the law in regards to this.

NBC News

PERANG SUKU: Wamena, 09-01-2022 pukul 15:30 WP

Sedang berlangsung perang terbuka antara Suku Lani dan Suku Nduga di Distrik Wouma, Kabupaten Jayawijaya.

Kedua pihak minta lapangan terbuka di lapangan bola wouma dan pihak keamanan sudah mengijinkan. Info sementara seperti itu wa

Mohon Teman-Teman Mahasiswa Lani Jaya dan Nduga tidak terprovokasi dengan situasi orang tua di Wamena.

Tetap jaga kekompakan. Tuhan Yesus Memberkati 🙏

Dano Anes Tabuni