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PNG prime minister Peter O'Neill |
Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill has
promised to do more to speak out on behalf of Melanesians in Indonesian West
Papua.
"Sometimes we forget our own families, our own
brothers, especially those in West Papua," Mr O'Neill said.
"I think, as a country, time has come for us
to speak about the oppression of our people there."
Apart from Vanuatu, governments in the Pacific have
been slow to speak out on human rights abuses in West Papua, especially after
Fiji was instrumental in getting Indonesia admitted as an observer at the
Melanesian Spearhead Group of nations.
With the increasing penetration of social media,
Pacific voters became more vocal about the failure of their governments to act.
Mr O'Neill has taken note.
Media player: "Space" to play,
"M" to mute, "left" and "right" to seek.
"Pictures of brutality of our people appear
daily on the social media, and yet we take no notice," he said.
"We have the moral obligation to speak for
those who are not allowed to talk. We must be the eyes for those who are
blindfolded. Again, Papua New Guinea is a regional leader.
"We must take the lead in having mature
discussions with our friends in a more solid and engaging manner."
Mr O'Neill made the extraordinary comments during a
major speech at the PNG Leader's Summit in Port Moresby, where he outlined his
government's core policies for 2015, including free education, improving
healthcare and strengthening law and order.
Pictures of brutality of our people appear daily on
the social media, and yet we take no notice.
Peter
O'Neill, Papua New Guinea prime minister
In the past, Port Moresby stuck firmly to its
position that West Papua was an integral part of Indonesia.
It has been reluctant to talk about human rights
abuses or to speak out on behalf of Melanesian separatists.
Papua bid to join Melanesian Spearhead Group
On Friday, the United Liberation Movement of West
Papua (ULWP) will submit an application for full membership of the Melanesian
Spearhead Group (MSG).
Grassroots campaigners are urging their governments
to support their Melanesian brothers.
The movement's spokesman, Benny Wenda, said the
application marked a significant moment in their fight for independence from
Indonesia.
"[For] 50 years, West Papua never had a united
voice to achieve our goal for independence," Mr Wenda said.
"But this has changed, we can unite in one
group called ULWP."
Mr Wenda said in the 50 years under Indonesian
rule, the Papuan people were looked upon by Indonesians as "second-class
citizens and treated as sub-humans".
Indonesia will oppose the move, but with the Kanak
Liberation Movement from New Caledonia already a full member, there is a
precedent.
The MSG leaders are expected to meet to make a
decision in the middle of the year.
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