Protesters detained in Port Moresby

By Frank Enright

Members of Melanesian Solidarity Papua New Guinea (Melsol) were detained while handing a petition to the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby on January 6. The petition complained of Indonesia's denial of the right of PNG to exist as an independent and sovereign nation.

“You have continuously violated our sovereignty ... by crossing our border in pursuit of what you term as `elements of disturbance'. By this you continuously deny and suppress the rights of our Melanesian brothers of West Papua who are genuinely fighting for their right to be liberated from your suppressive government”, the petition complained.

While the United Nations declared 1993 as the year of the indigenous people, Melsol pointed out that the Indonesian regime continued to oppress the peoples of East Timor and West Papua. The Indonesian government also violates the spirit of good will and peace of Papua New Guineans and Melanesians within Indonesia.

Criticising Indonesia's expansionist intentions, they called on the government to respect the United Nations conventions and treaties of which it is a signatory and to review its aggressive actions.

Seven petitioners were reportedly arrested by the PNG police at the Indonesian mission. The protesters were not charged under new dictatorial powers but under the old Internal Security Act. They were told that in future they would have seek permission for any protest at least two weeks in advance.

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