Rumbiak lashes out at delegation to West Papua

BY BARNABAS MANEBONA

SICA’s General Secretary Holmes Saeve (left) and United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Spokesperson, Jacob Rumbiak. Photo supplied

UNITED Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) spokesperson Jacob Rumbiak describes the recent seven-person delegation from Solomon Islands to West Papua as ‘a visitation by robbers’.

The recent delegation visit to West Papua had included the PMO Chief of Staff John Usuramo, Special Envoy to West Papua Rence Sore, Chairman of FSII Wilfred Luiramo, DSE chairman Inia Barry, Lawrence Makili, Gloreta Anderson and Lilly Chekana.

Speaking during his meeting with SICA General Secretary Holmes Saeve yesterday, Rumbiak said a summary of Ms Chekana’s account of their trip given by Holmes highlighting that the West Papuan people are not united is ‘very misleading’.

“I bring voice from inside West Papua as the delegation that recently visited West Papua was like robbers. They came and hid and never met with the people struggling for their right.

“I think they are blind and they do not know what we already have set up.”

He said ULMWP is the answer to their report as they have a Federal Republic of West Papua, a 14 political organisation affiliating with the Federal Republic, six organisations affiliating with West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation, six affiliating with the National Parliament of West Papua being 26 West Papuan organisations already inside.

And the United Liberation Movement for West Papua is a West Papua national political body. Inside ULMWP has a Diplomatic Politic Intelligent Military for element of political.

“When someone says we are not united, that is misleading being an Indonesian language,” said Rumbiak.

“They say how can they meet with West Papua, they do not have a leader, no political body and they do not have any agenda. We have an agenda, we have a political body, we have leadership member, adjective, we have a legislative leader and member, judicial leader and member, we got Bureau Officers working inside and Diplomats outside, and the support from the whole region of West Papua including churches (7 religions). They recommended support.

“The movement of West Papua is based on advice coming from the Melanesian leaders and we did it.”

On meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare last week, Rumbiak said that the group should have involved Fiji and Papua New Guinea before visiting independently and not being funded by Indonesia. They should have went and stayed on the ground with the people of West Papua.

The ULMWP spokesperson’s recent visit since last week was purposely to meet with the DPM, SICA, meet with the Melanesian Arts Festival organisers for WP indigenous partake in the upcoming Melanesian Arts Festival and also to reiterate that the recent seven-person delegation from Solomon Islands was done with Indonesian Government incentive for its interest.

He gave a detailed description of the group’s visit to WP to the SICA General Secretary, questioning why the group did not visit and call into various civil and interest groups within WP and even bypassing a meet with the generals there.

Rumbiak describes how the protestors went to welcome the Solomon Islands delegates but were instead arrested.

He showed a few videos of the documentaries about the atrocities in WP and a protestor who was arrested during the groups stay there.

Mr Holmes has also reinforced SICA’s prayers and desire for WP.

He stated the support of SICA for the West Papua people and the work to assist but within the confinement of Solomon Islands Government Policy on west Papua.

Rumbiak also gave a summary of the formation of ULMWP and the various bodies it is comprised of.

He leaves the country today and will return soon as the agenda for this year and next year is “Campaign and Lobbying” many supporters to convince the United Nations (UN) on West Papua’s issue.

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