Papua Liberation Movement undeterred on MSG bid

Transcript

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says West Papuans' desire for political freedom is stronger than ever.

The spokesman for the Liberation Movement, Benny Wenda, says they accept the decision by leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to defer the Movement's bid for full membership.

At their summit in Honiara last week, MSG leaders said the group's secretariat needed to clarify guidelines for membership, with the decision on the bid expected to be addressed by September.

Benny Wenda spoke to Johnny Blades who asked whether the MSG membership of New Caledonia's indigenous Kanaks sets a precedent for West Papua

BENNY WENDA: Kanak was already full membership even though they're not independent; they are still controlled by France. That's why West Papua case is very similar, it's not different. The only way that the west papua situation is different is that Indonesia, when we're trying to apply for full membership, Indonesia tries to refuse and they fight for the ULMWP not (gaining) full membership. And that's the Indonesian position but I think hopefully that in upcoming months they (MSG leaders) will do the right thing for West Papua.

JOHNNY BLADES: There's been a lot of talk in Indonesia around this MSG summit, have you ever seen as much media reporting coming out from Indonesia about Papua as has been happening recently?

BW: Yes, recently Indonesia's position is a very negative comment, trying to hold that the ULMWP were rejected as full membership, and speculation in many media in Indonesia. But the Melanesian leaders, they (have) not refused the ULMWP application. They just deferred and they will discuss on this issue in September. But Indonesian media is really negative, but of course we know their colonial power position.

JB: Indonesian officials are saying that the MSG shouldn't accept a separatist group. That's how the ULMWP is sometimes characterised. Do you think that's fair?

BW: It's not fair because Indonesia's position is illegal in West Papua, and they illegally occupied our country. We never recognise Indonesian sovereignty over our territory. And West Papua is a separate country and Indonesia cannot claim over our territory. We are not talking about Indonesia, but West Papua is a part of Melanesia, it's a Melanesian family. So I think the Indonesian argument is baseless.

JB: The MSG meeting last week (in Honiara), do you see it as a disappointment, or just another step along the way?

BW: For us it's another step along the way. Because we, on a human level, sometimes feel that way (disappointed) but we keep positive and this is our fight and we never go away, and west papua is Melanesian. and this issue is a regional issue. That's my argument always, this issue never goes away from the Melanesian eye or the New Zealanders or Australia or in the Pacific. So it's a Pacific issue and we'll continue to fight for full membership.