NCD Governor Parkop on the Anniversary of the Passing of PNG Founding Father

Today on the anniversary of the passing of Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare we will join the rest of the country to celebrate his life and pay him highest respects for the journey he started for our people into nationhood 50 years ago.

 Today we honour his life and conviction too for our people and our country by starting another chapter in this journey Grand Chief and his peers started by making this bid on behalf of our capital city Port Moresby to have a professional football Team in the new Oceania Professional League set up by the Oceania Football Confederation. 

It is no coincidence that we submitted the bid on this day the Anniversary of the passing of the great architect of our nation PNG.

When Grand Chief Somare was asked how will be run and managed a country at and after independence without the professional technocrats etc. 

He replied that my economists, engineers, doctors, accountants, lawyers, etc are in their mothers womb. They will be born after independence and they run and manage the country. 

We in our capital city will not just celebrate his life but truly honour him by manifesting his dreams, this time in Sports. Today we start a new chapter in the great dream Somare had in 1968, an independent state capable of being as good or better than anyone else. 

We wish to make this great dream a reality in Football or Soccer. 

OFC has given deadline for bids by Friday the 28th of February, 2025 but we have submitted today in honour of our founding father of our nation Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare.

 He had great faith and belief in our people. We are confident Port Moresby City FC will be highly competitive and successful if we are granted a license by Oceania Football Confederation. The Somare journey continues.

Para Aktivis Meminta Pemerintah Selandia Baru untuk Berbuat Lebih Banyak untuk Papua Barat

Pada tanggal 2 Desember 2023

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/503741/activists-call-on-nz-govt-to-do-more-for-west-papua

Pemerintah Selandia Baru harus menghadapi Indonesia atas dugaan pelanggaran hak asasi manusia di Papua Barat, kata aktivis hak asasi manusia dan aktivis kemerdekaan Papua Barat di Aotearoa.

Dewan Hak Asasi Manusia PBB melaporkan situasi hak asasi manusia di Papua Barat memburuk, mengutip laporan penyiksaan dan pengungsian massal.

“Kami tahu kekerasan yang dialami rakyat West Papua semakin memburuk,” kata juru bicara Partai Hijau Golriz Ghahraman pada upacara pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora di Auckland pada hari Jumat.

“Sudah jelas bahwa pemerintah Selandia Baru telah memprioritaskan hubungannya dengan negara yang lebih besar, Indonesia, di atas hak dan keselamatan warga West Papua… ini memalukan.

“Saya ingin melihat pemerintah kita mengatakan… akan melakukan divestasi dari pembelian barang dan kayu jika barang tersebut berasal dari Papua Barat, dan menggunakan semua forum internasional, baik di PBB atau dalam pembicaraan perdagangan langsung dengan Indonesia untuk mengangkat isu ini. hak-hak rakyat West Papua dan mendorong dekolonisasi."

Tanggal 1 Desember menandai hari bendera Bintang Kejora – bendera kemerdekaan Papua Barat – pertama kali dikibarkan pada tahun 1961 oleh para pemimpin asli Papua Barat. Upacara pengibaran bendera diadakan oleh aktivis di seluruh dunia untuk menandai acara tersebut.

Wilayah ini merupakan wilayah jajahan Indonesia sebelum jatuh ke tangan pemerintahan Indonesia pada tahun 1963. Sejak saat itu, gerakan kemerdekaan mengalami penindasan yang hebat dengan banyaknya laporan mengenai pembunuhan, intimidasi, dan penyiksaan.

“Selandia Baru tidak pernah mengambil sikap tegas terhadap penentuan nasib sendiri rakyat West Papua sejak Indonesia mengambil alih kekuasaan,” kata aktivis pro-kemerdekaan terkemuka Maire Leadbeater pada acara pengibaran bendera.

“Kami tidak akan pernah membiarkan pemerintah kami lupa bahwa mereka telah mengambil jalan yang salah sehubungan dengan Papua Barat.”

Di Indonesia, pengibaran bendera Bintang Kejora dilarang kecuali jika dikibarkan berdampingan dengan Bendera Indonesia dan pada ketinggian yang lebih rendah. Pada bulan September tahun lalu , tujuh orang ditangkap dan dipenjarakan di Papua Barat karena mengibarkan bendera.

“Rakyat Papua Barat yang mengekspresikan segala bentuk kemerdekaan atau penentuan nasib sendiri merupakan tindakan kriminal,” kata Ghahraman.

“Acara seperti ini penting untuk meningkatkan kesadaran akan situasi di Papua Barat… yang kami sampaikan adalah kami melihat Anda dan kami tahu hak-hak Anda dilanggar dengan kekerasan.

“Kami terus berbicara tentang Tiongkok, kami terus berbicara tentang Amerika Serikat dan bagaimana kami dapat mendukung sekutu negara adidaya kami, padahal sebenarnya hal tersebut adalah tentang meningkatkan suara masyarakat Pasifik seperti orang Papua Barat.”

Konflik bersenjata antara separatis Tentara Pembebasan Nasional Papua Barat (TPNPB) dan militer Indonesia baru-baru ini meningkat setelah penculikan pilot Selandia Baru Phillip Mehrtens pada bulan Februari tahun ini . Laporan dan rekaman pertempuran dirilis oleh kedua belah pihak.

____

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/503741/activists-call-on-nz-govt-to-do-more-for-west-papua

Pacific Conference of Churches Support West Papua 1 December 2023

Romans 8: 16-21

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

On the first of December 1969, the Morning Star was raised in the land of Tannah Papua. A Year later, the Indonesian Army invaded the land and placed a stranglehold on Papuans and the land. Today, the Pacific Conference of Churches, Fiji Council of Churches, Fiji Council Of Social Services (FCOSS), PIANGO Pacific 2030, Pacific Network on Globalisation, National Youth Council of FIji, Social Empowerment and Education Program- SEEP and other Civil Society representatives raised the morning star flag once again to commemorate the ongoing struggle for self-determination and freedom for our brothers and sisters in Tannah Papua. 

Rev Siera Bird, shares a reflection on the plight of West Papuan women especially, sharing a letter from Rode Wanimbo of the GIDI in West Papua who speaks to the hope that Pacific solidarity for freedom in West Papua is a beacon of hope for those in Tanah Papua. The reading from Romans Chapter 8 speaks to the hope for liberation that we find in Christ. 

As we continue to observe the 16 Days of Activism, we remember the unique violence that women and children face in the ongoing military occupation of Papua. The Pacific must stand up and speak out against the atrocities that are a lived reality for Papuans and reiterate the urgency with which we must work to end Indonesian Occupation of West Papua. 

From all corners of the Pacific, we shout #Merdeka! #MerdekaPapua! #Merdeka! #WestPapua #tannahpapua #FreeWestPapua

Marape calls for policies for a ‘better PNG’ in independence message

PNG Post-Courier

Prime Minister James Marape has reiterated his call for staff of the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council to “fully embrace their roles” as policy advisers to the government of Papua New Guinea.

In this week’s address on the eve of the 48th Independence celebrations today, Prime Minister Marape reminded the department’s staff that they must always keep in mind the people of Papua New Guinea whom they had been called to serve.

“As we commemorate our Independence, let us not forget those among us who are less fortunate,” he said.

“It is our responsibility to ensure that government policies are diligently implemented to create a better country for all our citizens, leaving no one behind.”

Prime Minister Marape also highlighted that his government’s policy agenda aligned with the Eight-Point Plan of the Constitution and the Seven Pillars of Vision 2050.

Spiritual, Cultural, and Community Development; and

Strategic Planning, Integration, and Control.

“These are the aspirations we must work tirelessly to achieve in our lifetime if we want future generations to thrive in a prosperous Papua New Guinea,” he urged.

Acknowledging the relatively short average life expectancy of approximately 72 years in the country, Prime Minister Marape said that it wsas incumbent upon everyone to redouble their efforts.

The Prime Minister also drew attention to the fact that public servants in Papua New Guinea made up less than 2 percent of the total workforce yet consumed about a third of the annual budget.

He called on the staff of the Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council to not only excel in their roles but to also inspire their colleagues in other line agencies to do the same, ensuring that all Papua New Guineans would receive the service they deserved.

Melanesian-way leadership

In an editorial, the PNG Post-Courier was less rosy reflecting on the country’s political system since Independence from Australia in 1975.

“Without knowing what democracy was and what the Westminster system of government was, our people went to the first national general election in 1978,” the Post-Courier said.

“Since that election, and at every other later election, our people have incorporated the Melanesian Way of leadership into the new democracy we adopted and a home-grown system had flourished.

“The results we have today is the price we are paying.

“Compounding this is other underlying challenge like the integrity of the Electoral Roll that must be addressed.

“Another issue is the weak political party system we have. A small country, PNG has 46 registered political parties to date, each with their own policy platforms.

“It is a nightmare for the voters, no one bothered to get to know all the political parties well.”

Chief Gen. WPRA Mathias Wenda: Indonesia Must Go Home! Leave Us Alone!

In celebrating the Independence Anniversary of the Republic of West Papua that was proclaimed by the Organisasi Papua Merdeka (OPM) leaders in Great Waris, Port Numbay, West Papua on July 1st, 1971. Chief Gen. WPRA Mathias Wenda has issued a Declaration with three basic demands.

The First “maklumat” (in Malay-Indos means public legal-political announcement) says all West Papuans in the world to celebrate the independence anniversary of the Republic of West Papua by conducting official flag raising ceremony or by holding prayers in villages and places where West Papuans live.

Second “maklumat” urges all West Papuans who live in towns and suburban areas to go back to home villages as soon as possible.

The third public notice is that all Indonesians should now go back to their own islands, namely Java, Madura, Sumatera, Borneo, Sulawesi, Bali and Nusa Tenggara and celebrate their independence anniversary on August 17th, 2019.

Be prepared for mobilization of peoples of West Papua in welcoming the international recognition of the political sovereignty of the Republic of West Papua and witness the “going-home” of the colonial Republic of Indonesia from its colonized regions of Papua and Papua Barat provinces based on truth as well as human rights and democratic principles.

In the background to the “maklumat” General Wenda says this “July 1st, 2019 Declaration” is in response to the work being carried out by Indonesian intelligence agencies across the border areas between West Papua and Papua New Guinea, terrorizing and threatening local landowners in Papua New Guinea with dis-information and misinformation about what WPRA is doing and why we are here in Papua New Guinea.

General Wenda basically demands Indonesia to leave us Melanesians alone in our own home island, and let themselves return to their own home-islands.

Source: http://papuapost.com

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Lini Day Celebration to Focus on Nationalism

• By Fern Napwatt, Vanuatu Daily Post

The Lini Day celebration on Thursday, February 21 will focus on the importance of nationalism, says committee Chairman, Charles Lini.

The 2019 commemoration will mark 20 years when Vanuatu’s First Prime Minister, Father Walter Hadye Lini passed away in Port Vila and a committee was established headed by the son of late Fr Walter Lini, Charles to organize the 21st celebration.

“Since then, memorial services have always been organized by the Anglican Church in Port Vila or families,” he said.

“It is now 20 years, and we thought it should be an open celebration by everyone and the significance of representing nationalism.”

Mr Lini said that it will be a 2-day event, beginning with a parade on February 20th from Independence Park to the celebration venue at Saralana.

“The theme of the celebration is ‘Celebrating Lini Legacy with wisdom in Kastom, Church and Politics’ so the activities during the event revolves around the theme,” he said.

“We will have entertainment from church groups, custom performances, debates involving schools and official speeches from guest speakers.”

A mini photo exhibition in his memorial will be set up at the museum as it’s done annually to commemorate the 20th year of his passing away.

Mr Lini stressed that prior to Independence, the people of Vanuatu were then ‘stateless’ until the forefathers made the decision that this country has to make its own decisions.

“The idea of nationalism was born and today we have a nationality, so we are celebrating not just the person but the idea of nationalism and that we are proud of national identity,” he said.

“Our guest speaker of the day (21st) will be the Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai on behalf of the Vanuatu government and speeches as decided by the committee will be based on the past, the present and future of this country in nationalism.”

Father Walter Lini was a priest, a politician and a high ranking custom chief of Pentecost and PENAMA Province.

fern@dailypost.vu

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