Tuesday, April 9, 2013

1) MSG chairmanship transition coincides with momentum for West ...


1) MSG chairmanship transition coincides with momentum for West ...
2) Chevron hoping to drill for oil and gas in West Papua
3) Home minister installs new Papua governor

--------------------------------------------------------

Posted at 09:54 on 09 April, 2013 UTC
The spokesperson for New Caledonia’s Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, Victor Tutugoro has been elected to be the next Melanesian Spearhead Group chairman.
He will hold the role for two years from June when New Caledonia hosts the MSG Leaders Summit.
Johnny Blades reports that the summit coincides with a major drive to help the self-determination aspirations of Melanesian peoples not yet independent, notably West Papuans:
-----------------
Furthering the Kanak bid for independence from France was a core reason for the inception of the MSG twenty-five years ago.
MSG commitment to this cause may have veered off course in the intervening years, but it’s sharply returning to focus with the change of chairmanship and the fact that the four-year window for a possible referendum on New Caledonia’s independence as provided by the Noumea Accord begins next year.
Adding to the momentum, the former Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare recently warned that if the MSG cannot help fulfill the Kanak political aspirations, then ’it risks the danger of losing its existence’.
However Sir Michael has implored the MSG Secretariat to ’exercise caution and patience’ in dealing with the other big Melanesian self-determination issue, that of West Papua.
The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation recently lodged a formal application for full MSG membership and the summit is expected to feature a formal response.
There are signs that after years on the outer, encompassing the controversial granting of MSG observer status to Indonesia, the West Papuans’ time to join the club may have arrived.
Vanuatu’s new Prime Minister Moana Carcasses Kalosil says his government will push for West Papua to be granted full MSG membership
“It’s about time to recognise that the West Papua struggle, someone has to do something about it. We cannot just close our eyes and deny, say that there is nothing happening over there, because there are many human rights issues happening over there. We want West Papua to be a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group - this is something that we’re going to lobby for.”
The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation has been lobbying Melanesian leaders over the membership matter, including a visit to Fiji to talk with the current MSG chairman, Commodore Frank Bainimarama.
An advisor to the Coalition is the former Vanuatu Prime Minister Barak Sope who was impressed by the willingness of Fiji’s Prime Minister to pursue the matter.
“He is in a position to put it to the other heads of government. When I spoke last time (to RNZI on the matter), I was critical of Bainimarama and others because of Indonesia coming in to the MSG. But with their position this time, they’ve said ok, the West Papua case - after following the (application) procedure - it’ll now be considered by the MSG, it’s up to the MSG leaders to decide.”
The Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Clay Forau says his government is expecting an approach by the coalition, but has indicated his country will give its support.
“I think that’s the way we’re going now, helping our other friends in their fight for self-determination. You’re aware that we also co-sponsored a UN resolution for French Polynesia’s inscription on the decolonisation list.”
While Sir Michael Somare says dialogue and extensive consultation should underlie the MSG approach on the West Papua issue, it’s clear that the new generation of Melanesian leaders emerging is less willing than him to defer to the issue as purely an Indo domestic matter for Indonesia.
Membership in the MSG for West Papua is no certainty, but FLNKS chairmanship of the MSG is - both would give significant momentum to the decolonisation process in the region.
------------------------------------------------
Posted at 22:39 on 08 April, 2013 UTC
The US-based energy multinational Chevron is hopeful of beginning drilling for oil and gas in West Papua after completing a seismic survey of two exploration blocks in the eastern Indonesian province.
The Jakarta Post reports that Chevron aims to review the results of the survey as soon as possible before deciding when it could start drilling.
The leading crude oil producer in Indonesia, Chevron holds a 51 percent operating interest in the two West Papua exploration blocks in Kaimana and Fakfak.
The remaining interest is held by British corporation BP, which currently operates the massive Tangguh gas project in Teluk Bintuni, West Papua.
According to data from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Chevron has invested almost 7 billion US dollars into its West Papua interests since winning exploration rights for the two blocks in 2008.
-------------------------------------------


http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/04/09/home-minister-installs-new-papua-governor.html

3) Home minister installs new Papua governor

A- A A+
Home Minister Gamawan Fauzi installed Lukas Enember and Klemen Tinal as the new Papua governor and deputy governor at Mandala Stadium, Jayapura, on Tuesday.
They replaced interim governor Constant Karma.
In first speech as governor, Lukas promised to unite all Papuans, eradicate poverty, improve education and uphold justice during his 2013-2018 term.
Gamawan expressed surprise at the enthusiasm of the thousands of people attending the inauguration.
“This is the first time in my three years as a minister that I have installed new officials at a stadium. It represents the true spirit of democracy,” he said.
He urged the new officials, who won 52 percent of the vote, to fulfill their promises to the people.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.