AK Rockefeller Vanuatu

Vanuatu

A Time for Hope in West Papua

In the wake of West Papua’s long awaited acceptance as a part of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, the time is coming for the cries of the Papuan people to be heard. ...

Raise the flag for West Papua

Despite cruel restrictions, every December 1st West Papuans gather to celebrate the day they were granted independence from the Dutch and risk their lives raising the Morning Star flag in remembrance. ...

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Boycott Indonesian Elections!

Several West Papuan activist groups have been calling for a boycott of tomorrow's elections in Indonesia. Indonesian police and military have actually threatened to shoot anyone calling for the boycott, forcing the ...

SBY’s Pacific Propaganda Tour

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he would explain his policies on Papua during his visit to Fiji, where he will attend a meeting of Pacific Island leaders, some of whom have been critical of Jakarta’s h ...

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Historical speech by Vanuatu PM calls for UN action on West Papua

The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Moana Carcasses called for international action on West Papua at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Following on from his speech at the UN last September, Mr Carcasses f ...

Indonesian military gears up for oppression in West Papua

The Indonesian military has big plans and has made some big purchases. They have just acquired 8 units of AH-64 Apache combat helicopters as well as a number of submarines. Will they end be used for defense or to s ...

West Papuan cause getting new international support

New support for the West Papuan movement becoming member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG). Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and the New Caledonian Kanak nationalist coalition FLNKS (already an MSG member) are the stro ...

Another PNG Government Official Speaks Up About West Papua

The Papua New Guinea Health minister Michael Malabag, speaking as a private citizen, has said it is time PNG made a bold stand for the independence struggle of the mostly Melanesian indigenous people of the Indonesia ...

PNG Takes Regional Lead In Supporting West Papua Freedom Campaign

Ordinary people in this part of the Pacific are painfully aware that the West Papuan people continue to live under the gun. It is the politicians in Melanesia who have been slow to take up the cause. But that may be ...

West Papuan Leaders Apply For Melanesian Spearhead Group Membership

Officials from the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) have submitted an application for Melanesian Spearhead Group membership at the organisation’s headquarters in Port Vila, Vanuatu. Dr John ...

Growing International Solidarity for West Papua Freedom Campaigns

It is likely that most US citizens who consider themselves informed about global events are aware of the genocides in Rwanda, Bosnia and East Timor, yet it’s likely that few people in the US are aware of the o ...

Stop the systematic suppression of Papuan cultural identity

Papuan activists and scholars have called on the government to allow the use of the region’s traditional symbols and stop prosecuting locals who promote them. ...

Vanuatu: Strengthened Military Ties with Indonesia Spark Protests, Arrests

Protestors say that the arrival of Indonesian officials and military personnel in the country is unacceptable given Vanuatu's longstanding support for West Papuan self-determination. Under a recently signed co-operat ...

What Does Papua Mean for US-Indonesia Relations?

Against a backdrop of continuing violence and instability, the United States must be prepared to take a stronger stand on Papua. Rising tensions there risk complicating critically significant U.S.-Indonesia relations ...

Applying the wisdom of traditional Melanesia to Modern Society

"A long time ago, our people discovered the secret of life — live well, love well, have something good for every person and die a happy death" - Bernard Narakobi ...

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The Black Islands – Spirit and War in Melanesia

A multimedia journey through Melanesia in the South Pacific, documenting kastom, cult, cargo cult and new religious movements in the region as well as numerous guerilla armies fighting for independence. ...

“Road to Freedom” Conference for West Papuan Self-Determination

The “Road to Freedom” conference comes right on the heels of last week’s Joint Commission meeting between the U.S. and Indonesia, where U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated the United ...

Vanuatu Becomes 5th Country to Recognize Georgia’s Rebel Abkhazia Region

"Vanuatu has taken a very brave step and we are very grateful... It is very meaningful. They were not afraid of provoking a negative reaction from western Europe and the United States." ...

Thousands Rally in West Papua to Demand Independence

Thousands of the people of West Papua, coordinated by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), held rallies across Papua today to demand referendum to be held in West Papua. The demonstration was to commemorate the ...

West Papua is not an Indonesian issue says Ayamisiba

The decision by Prime Minister Sato Kilman and Leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to accept Indonesia is a mockery to the people of Vanuatu. ...