Fiji’s Ocean of Peace initiative is timely and relevant given the intense geo-political posturing by the big powers for influence leading to increased militarisation of our region, says the Director General of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat, Leonard Louma.
DG Louma made the comments during his opening remarks at the MSG Leader’s Caucus meeting in Nukualofa, while clarifying issues for discussion which also included New Caledonia; the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI); MSG Leaders Dialogue with the Indonesian President and the MSG Leaders’ Summit in Fiji in November.
He stated that as the largest grouping in the region, by any measure, we stand to lose more if we allow this geo-political posturing to fester without being checked, and the Ocean of Peace does just that.
“Conversely, we will stand to gain more with the Ocean of Peace by ensuring that the current provisions that are designed and framed to suit our needs are strengthened when finalising this initiative,” he added.
DG Louma echoed the Chair’s statement reminding the Leaders that side meetings like this, on the margins of the PIF meetings, provides a valuable opportunity to discuss issues of specific interest to our Group and arrive at common approaches and positions, where needed, to take to the PIF. This he said, is notwithstanding the right of members to approach the issues from the prism of their own national interests.
The MSG Leaders Caucus meeting was attended by Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas, Chair of the MSG; James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea; Jeremiah Manele, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands; Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, Fiji’s Special Envoy to PIF on behalf of Prime Minister Rabuka; President Louis Mapou, President of the New Caledonia Government and representatives of the FLNKS along with MSG Senior Officials.
With regards to New Caledonia, DG Louma said the MSG Tokyo Statement sets the basis of MSG’s stand. It provides a very constructive approach, and the positions it advocates on the different aspects of the New Caledonia dossier are fair to all stakeholders.
On the Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI), DG Louma advised that while conversations on this have so far been encouraging, many aspects are still not clear and ambiguous. To this end, DG Louma cautioned the Leaders to ensure that the PPI “must be genuinely framed to fit our purposes and not conveniently developed as part of the geo-strategic denial security doctrine of our big partners”.
He further emphasized and supported the MSG Chairman’s remarks that this idea of a collective approach to policing is not a new concept and that MSG countries have benefitted from, and have been part of, this collective approach to policing for a long time.
“There are synergies to be found between the MSG collective policing proposals and the PPI. MSG would do well to shepherd the PPI proposal to help us implement, for instance, the MSG Formed Police Unit idea,” he added.
With respect to MSG Leaders Dialogue with the President of Indonesia, Leaders were informed that the MSG Secretariat is vigorously pursuing this with the relevant Indonesian authorities to ensure that opportunities are identified for all MSG Leaders to meet with the Indonesian President as soon as practicable. This, following two unsuccessful attempts during the AIS High Level Meeting and the World Water Forum last year.
“The PIF last year recognised the useful role that MSG can play, to support its efforts, on the issue of the alleged human rights abuses in Indonesia and the welfare of the citizens in West Papua and the Papuan Provinces,“ he stated. PIF, he noted, consequently appointed two MSG Prime Minister’s as Special Envoys of the PIF to speak to President Widodo last year in San Franscisco on the margins of the APEC Leaders meeting.
He thanked Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape for their contribution towards fulfilling the PIF mandate.
Leaders were also reminded of the MSG Special Leaders’ Summit in Fiji in November for the Chairmanship handover from Vanuatu to Fiji, and appealed to the Leaders to attend this occasion in person.
Louis Mapou, President of the New Caledonia Government, also presented an update on the New Caledonia issue on behalf of the FLNKS.
