A PEACEFUL rally calling for Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) leaders to vote for West Papua to become full member of the MSG will go ahead today after permission was granted by the Police Commissioner yesterday.
Solomon Islands Solidarity for West Papua Freedom (SISWPF) is organising the rally to demonstrate their support for West Papua.
Initially the SISWPF has planned to stage the peaceful rally on May 14 but permission was not granted until yesterday after weeks of dialogue with the Honiara City and Police authorities.
Spokeslady for the group Lilly Chekana urges the members, individuals and local advocators to come in green, yellow and blue colours to show support for West Papua and call for MSG leaders to vote for West Papua.
She said, SISWPF is a solidarity group comprises of Solomon Islands Christian Associations (SICA), Solomon Islands Federation Christian Association, Development Service Exchange (DSE), Voice Blong Mere, Solomon Islands for West Papua, Forum Solomon Islands International (FSII), Young Women Parliament, USP Student Association, Guadalcanal Mothers Union, Grassroots and Guadalcanal Forum.
She said, the rally will be led by police from Honiara City Council to National Museum starting at 7.30 am.
“The peaceful rally is to show our support for West Papua and call for all MSG leaders to vote for West Papua to become full member of the MSG through United Liberation Movement for West Papua,” she said.
Mrs Chekana clarified that the rally is not a protest but is a movement bid for support for West Papua like other countries done around the world.
She said, West Papua issue is now becoming a worldwide issue that concern everyone due to the continues genocide that killed thousands of people seeking for freedom and independent.
She said, West Papua is looking to Solomon Islands to give them the rights to become member of the MSG because this is where all the leaders will meet and vote for or not for West Papua.
“We, the Solidarity group strongly calls on the government to vote for West Papua because that will pave the way towards giving freedom and independent for West Papua in the future,” she said.
Forum Solomon Islands International Vice President Ishmael Nori calls on the Prime Minister to stand on his call in 2013 to stop the abuse of West Papua when Gordon Darcy Lilo was Prime Minister.
He said, Solomon Islands cannot wait to hear more genocide continue in West Papua but to say yes to West Papua to become member of the MSG.
“Solomon Islands must not be intimidated by Papua New Guinea government supporting Indonesia as associate member of the MSG.
“We must demonstrate to the world that Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation and does its own decision where it is just,” he said.
By Charles Kadamana
