Vanuatu West Papua MSG: An epic saga of messianic hope, betrayal, tragedy and resurrection
July 1, 2023 0 72

An Eastern Star cartoon paying tribute to Vanuatus support for West Papuan self-determination aspirations. Image: Free West Papua Movemen

SPECIAL REPORT: By Yamin Kogoya

The name Vanuatu has taken on a sacred significance in Papuan liberation consciousness.

The Free Papua Movement (OPM) elders ignited this consciousness after the declaration of West Papuas independence on 1 July 1971.

The declaration was an act of revolution to reclaim Papuan sovereignty, stolen by Indonesia.

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General Seth Rumkorem and Jacob Prai declared it, defended it, and received official recognition. Dakar, Senegal, was among them, the first international diplomatic office opened by OPM shortly after the declaration.

As Papuans resisted the invasion, they sought refuge in the Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Sweden, Australia, and Greece. All joined, at least in spirit, under the name OPM.

Its spirit of revolution that bonded West Papua and Vanuatu with those across Europe, Oceania, and Africa. This was a time of decolonisation, revolution, and a Cold War.

The decolonisation movement back then was more conscious in heart and mind of humanity than now.

Rex Rumakieks sacred connection
Rex Rumakiek (now aged 78), a long time OPM fighter alongside others, established this sacred connection in 1978.

In Papua New Guinea, Rumakiek met with students from Vanuatu studying at the University of Papua New Guinea and shared the OPMs revolutionary victory, tragedy, and solution.

These students later took prominent roles in the formation of the independent state of Vanuatu became part of the solution laid a foundation of hope.

A common spirit emerged between the OPMs resistance to Indonesian colonisation and Vanuatus struggle for freedom from long-term European (French and English) confederation rule.

A brutal system of dual rule known as Condominium critics called it Pandemonium (chaos and disorder).

West Papua, a land known as little heaven is indeed like a Garden of Eden in Miltons epic Paradise Lost poem.

To restore freedom and justice to that betrayed, lost paradise was the foundati...

Statement 

H.E. Grand Chief Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae, Governor General of Papua New Guinea, visited the British Royal Navy ship His Majestys Ship, HMS Tamar at an evening reception held last Friday evening.

The reception, hosted by British High Commissioner to PNG, H.E. Keith Scott, was also attended by foreign heads of missions, Deputy Chief of PNG Defence Force Commodore(N) Philip Polewara and Secretary of Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Mr. Elias Wohengu.

In his welcome remarks, High Commissioner Scott spoke of the close relationship and security partnership between the PNG Defence Force and the British Army which also extends to navy and other elements of the army of both countries.

Photo supplied

High Commissioner Scott noted that significant progress has been made in regard to security liaison and assistance from the United Kingdom to Papua New Guinea.

He said, Great Britain stands ready to provide the necessary assistance to the Papua New Guinea Defence Force to also include the PNG Defence Force participation in international peace keeping missions alongside the British army.

High Commissioner Scott also spoke of the important role of the Ceremonial office of the PNG Defence Force which he says was often overlooked, but which plays a major role in national events including the upcoming 50th independence anniversary celebrations.

 He said, the performance of the Ceremonial office will signify the progress and pride of the PNGDF over the last five decades of the countrys nationhood hence it was important to equip this division with the necessary capability and resources that it can showcase during the 50th Independence anniversary celebrations.

In his welcome remarks, the Governor General welcomed the visit of HMS Tamar which he said demonstrated the close and warm relationship shared between PNG and United Kingdom.

Your visit is testament to the warm and close relationship Papua New Guinea and United Ki...

 Lae City FC is not ready to walk away handing over the Championship on a golden platter aback the momentum we have established as the champion club of Papua New Guinea.  

We are still the Lae City, Morobe and Papua New Guinea Champion Soccer club until the fight is brought to us once more in the field of play. 

For that we are always and forever proud of and owe it to the people of Lae and Morobe province. 

In saying so and today goes down as a momentous milestone for the reigning PNG National Soccer League champion, Lae City FC. 

The 8 times and current NSL champion carry on a legacy raised over a period of 10 years. 

Season 2023 is significant under the inaugural franchise ownership of the municipal authority of the second city of PNG, the Lae City Authority (LCA). 

Lae City Authority through Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister of PNG and member for Lae John Rosso, takes over the reign from the Lae Biscuit Company. 

Lae City Authority has been part and partial of the Lae City FC over the two terms of DPM Rosso and carrys forth a legacy established as the flagship soccer team of Lae and the Morobe Province.

Lae City FC opens its inaugural NPL season with all due respect to the Lae Biscuit Company and Chairman Ian Chow, but with heavy hearts. Soccer in Papua New Guinea will never have reached one of its highest points in time if it wasnt for the love of sports by the Chow family in this country. 

And Lae City FC is a standout flagship team of the Morobe province through the Chow family representing not only Lae City but Morobe province as a whole to date. 

It is only rightful that the Lae City Authority retains and advances the legacy of Lae City FC as a dominant player in PNGs soccer arena reaching out to the Oceania region as well. 

Members of Lae City FC through the years represent pockets of Lae City to the greater Morobe province and PNG as a whole. The football in the team has been an inspiration for PNG as well role models in the various settings of society to the district and provinces respectively. 

Off the field, there is a...

During a recent visit to Port Moresby, Tim Ayres, Australias Assistant Minister for Trade, caught up with Business Advantage PNG to explain the growing nexus between Australia and Papua New Guinea, and what business opportunities it presents.

Business Advantage PNG (BAPNG): What do you make of the open invitation made by Richard Maru, PNGs Minister for International Trade and Investment for Australian businesses to take up what he described as a decade of opportunity in PNG?

Tim Ayres: Theres nothing wrong with issuing a challenge to the Australian government about the development opportunities in PNG. Trade is as much about commercial opportunities as it is about creating good jobs for ordinary people. But at this juncture in history, its also about climate, energy and security challenges. This creates a joint responsibility to get policy right, and where our two governments are aligned is where the commercial and development opportunities will follow.

BAPNG: The Federal government has hinted that the Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme (PLMS) is going to continue. What do you see as the key opportunities?

TA: Your fast-growing populace who lack work is both an enormous social and economic responsibility, and a governance challenge for PNG. In light of that dilemma, the PLMS scheme is really an opportunity to responsibly deal with the economic challenge in Australia, while also addressing an economic and foreign exchange challenge in PNG.

If we can find a way to support the growing and processing of PNG coffee, plus access to Australian markets, the skys the limit for local growers.

Secondly, the PLMS scheme is an enormous skills development opportunity for PNG. The Albanese government is alive to implementing the scheme carefully. We want to ensure young PNG workers who come to Australia have a good experience working there, and return to their home communities with new skills and some capital behind them to improve their lives and the lives of their families.

BAPNG: What role can the Australian government play helping the PNG government attract foreign investment?

TA: Theres no easy answer to this; its about working as equal partners, sharing ou...

Innovation PNG 2023, an international-class event bringing the best of new technology, creative solutions and innovative thinking to Papua New Guinea, will be held on 10 November in Port Moresby.

Innovation PNG 2023 was officially launched at a special briefing for business and the media last week in Port Moresby.

Hosted at APEC Haus, it is a joint initiative of the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce and Industry (POMCCI) and business event specialists, Business Advantage International, publisher of www.businessadvantagepng.com.

the event to PNG again this year and invite the local business community to get involved, says POMCCI Rio Fiocco, who notes the inaugural Innovation PNG event, held in 2019, was highly successful.

Businesses of all sizes, including public sector organisations, and educational institutions are welcome to...