Bougainville vote results to be delivered in one announcement

Results in Bougainville’s upcoming referendum on independence from Papua New Guinea will be delivered in just one announcement.

The two-week polling period for the non-binding referendum begins on 23 November.

The verification, scrutiny and count process is to begin at the Count Centre in Buka once polling closes on 7 December.

The Bougainville Referendum Commission’s chairman Bertie Ahern said the vote would be delivered to the highest of international electoral standards.

He said that given the need to deliver a clear and credible process, a running tally of votes would not be provided, in order to avoid confusion.

“We are sure that the process will be safe, secure and will enable us to deliver an accurate and credible result,” he said.

“We are also following internationally recognised steps to ensure that the process is open to scrutineers, observers and the media.”

Mr Ahern said that the commission hoped to conclude counting well before the final date for the return of the writ – 20 December.

“Given the emotions of the vote, we will announce just one set of results, which will be the final one so as not to confuse people.

“The BRC will announce the final number of votes cast for greater autonomy and independence, plus the number of informal ballot papers. No more, and no less.”

Meanwhile, hundreds of scrutineers and observers have received accreditation to monitor Bougainville’s upcoming independence referendum.

Briefings were held yesterday in Bougainville’s three main centres, Buka, Arawa and Buin, for 95 observers and 554 scrutineers.

The Bougainville Referendum Commission said the briefings were to ensure the observers and scrutineers understood their role in supporting a transparent and credible referendum.

As well as dozens of domestic observers, several teams of international referendum observers will be converging on Bougainville in the next week ahead of the vote.

Source: RNZ

Tweet

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2XJ8oY1
via IFTTT November 13, 2019 at 01:27PM

Melanesian Spearhead Group Role on West Papua Issue

By Ambassador Brian Yombon-Copio

West Papua has ongoing issues on human rights abuses and atrocities committed by Indonesia’s guided democracy regime. They have suffered for far too long on their motherland and felt that they should exist as an independent nation state which would guarantee them absolute freedom from these issues. Most importantly West Papuans view that they belong to a Melanesian race and they fear continued suffering at the hands of a populous mongoloid race. The West Papuans are an ethnic minority which has resultant ethnic similarities to Melanesians where they have same features, cultural values and norms and importantly they have closer proximity with PNG based on ancestral ties especially West Sepik and Western Provinces which draws back to many years.

The Melanesian countries have witnessed and sympathised on the sufferings of the West Papuans and they have overwhelming views against the abuse of human rights and atrocities. The Melanesian Spearhead Group (‘MSG’) which is the central forum for Melanesian peoples has indicated support for West Papua with their aspirations for a fully pledge independent nation. However PNG being the largest Melanesian country which is viewed to have potential influence has different views under successive political leaders and supported West Papua with reservations at the MSG level.

Nevertheless West Papua was admitted as an observer recently in the Melanesian bloc instead of a full membership. The current government views PNG’s regional standing and reputation which have been shaped by its commitment to Melanesian values which include stronger democracy, maintaining the rule of law, protection of human rights and increasing trade and economic aspects of development as significantly important. The MSG is an important partner in the pursuit of these values regionally. PNG is therefore viewed as a strong influence and ‘bread winner’ for other Melanesian countries and ethnic minorities within the region. Accordingly PNG Government’s change of politics on West Papua is timely.

Historically PNG has been forced into a difficult situation as previous governments reached an understanding with Indonesia that West Papua remains an integral part of the country and PNG should not offend Indonesia in supporting West Papua’s independence aspirations. As a result PNG’s position on the West Papua issues has been grasped with mixed reactions by other Melanesian countries which expected PNG to equally support West Papua’s agenda on its political future.

The Melanesian countries do not duly consider PNG’s closer proximity to Indonesia and the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries. However the MSG countries view PNG as a ‘bread winner’ for the rest of the smaller island nations. In other words, PNG is expected to act on behalf of smaller island countries regardless of its own position and pursue the interest of smaller island nations and other minor ethnic groups like West Papua and New Caledonia. Given PNG’s perceived leadership in the region, the MSG views that PNG has an obligation to deliver desired results for the benefit of minor ethnic groups which have formidable issues. However MSG solidarity is important and if collective determinations are reached, PNG has no option but to respect such and support the decisions for realisation in the interest of the MSG bloc. At the MSG level there has to be solidarity in most of the decisions reached by the MSG for a common good of Melanesian peoples.

There is overwhelming support for West Papua for its aspiration for self-determination from majority of the MSG members and PNG’s change in position should impact certainty to a larger degree. PNG should play a lead role in encouraging the MSG bloc to make representation to Indonesia with its collective determinations to address the issues of West Papua. It is strongly believed that Indonesia would respect PNG and sense that the collective determinations reflect the views of the MSG.

The major regional players like Australia and New Zealand also have vested interests and are aware that the West Papua agenda on independence has potential issues with their own interests with Indonesia. On the other, Australia and New Zealand might have their own foreign policies on PNG-Indonesian relations as they are absolutely aware of the impeding position of PNG. Given the scenario, Australia and New Zealand should support on the West Papua issues through regional dialogues to reach solutions which would satisfy both West Papua and Indonesia.

Tweet

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2IEvGrM
via IFTTT October 10, 2019 at 10:13AM

Urgent Action on Torture & Attempt to Kill One Melanesian from West Papuan in Vanimo, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea

West Papua Refugee Relief Association (WPRRA)

An Open Letter

To: Honourable James Marape, MP,
The Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Port Moresby,
PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Subject:

Urgent Action on Torture & Attempt to Kill One Melanesian from West Papuan in Vanimo, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea

Dear Honourable Prime Minister,

West Papua and human rights of Melanesians from West Papua has been a continuing issue since the invasion and occupation of our Melanesian land by foreign power called the Colonial United Republic of Indonesia (CURI).

The West Papua Refugee Relief Association (WPRRA) which was established in Port Moresby in 2010, hereby would like to present to Honourable Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea the “torture and assassinate attempt on one of Melanesians from West Papua who have been living in Vanimo, Sandaun Province for many years, after escaping from terror, intimidation and threat to life from Indonesian army and police forces in West Papua.”

We attach the chronology of the event and our demand for immediate actions, and images of the victim. We will supply videos on our interview with the victim upon request.

Issued in: Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
On Date:  28 September 2019

WPRRA Main Office,

Elimar Gombo                                                               Soni Yossi
Chairperson                                                                    Deputy Chairperson

• 

  Gerson Togodly Beaten up by Indonesian Terrorist Agents in Vanimo, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea

• 

  Gerson Togodly Beaten up by Indonesian Terrorist Agents in Vanimo, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea

• 

  Gerson Togodly Beaten up by Indonesian Terrorist Agents in Vanimo, Sandaun Province, Papua New Guinea

Tweet

from WordPress https://ift.tt/2o1WNWe
via IFTTT October 01, 2019 at 08:03AM

PNG Capital to Host Peaceful Demonstration to Show Solidarity to West Papua Campaign