Visiting General Secretary of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua, Octovinius Mote has told Solomon Islands Prime Minister in Honiara that his movement is moving away from advocacy to nation-building.
Mr Mote said for West Papuans to gain international support for their push for self-rule, they must be seen as nation builders.
He said they must take part in building the economy, capacity building in nurse and doctor training and must prepare for adverse effects of climate change.
He said as a big island, West Papua must prepare to help people from smaller island states whose homes may be destroyed by rising sea levels as a direct result of climate change.
Mr Mote said the offer of help will be promoted in the smaller island states in the Caribbean and the Pacific of the ACP Group, of which MSG members countries are part of.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare described West Papua’s move as a very interesting twist.
Mr Sogavare said the twist is a positive move because it could convince Jakarta that West Papuans are serious about looking after themselves and developing their vast natural resources.
He said as a firm believer in MSG solidarity, West Papua cannot go wrong if it harmonises its politics and economics.
Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands Prime Minister said the MSG Leaders’ Summit will consider the application for full membership by the United Liberation Movement of West Papua to take to new heights their disagreement with Indonesia for its continuous human-rights abuses in West Papua.
Mr Sogavare said the international concern about human-rights abuses in West Papua is also shared by Australia, New Zealand, PNG and Fiji as well as NGOs and is getting the momentum.
By GEORGE ATKIN,
OMPC Press Secretariat
