The agreement was the third version of the msg trade agreement amongst the four msg countries, namely, fiji, papua new guinea, solomon islands and vanuatu. Focused on gradual reduction of tariffs import duty on goods imported from msg countries in order to enhance intraregional trade. What to expect at the melanesian spearhead group summit. Indonesias place in the melanesian spearhead group has come under scrutiny from regional leaders and experts after allegations were made by solomon islands deputy prime minister manasseh sogavare earlier this month that fiji pressured other countries to accept jakartas bid to join the subregional group. The malvatumauri national council of chiefs has completed a pilot study on wellbeing which measures happiness and considers variables that reflect melanesian values. Conscious of the overriding need to foster, accelerate and encourage the economic. As its name suggests, it comprises the melanesian countries of the south west pacific, the ones closest to australia.
Jun 23, 20 the long cry struggle for independence by west papuan melanesian was one key issue discussed at the 19th melanesian spearhead group leaders msg. These countries comprise the vast majority of the population of the pacific island region. As a people of one origin, one soul, and one destiny, we declare to the world that this proclamation is made based on our own awareness of our existence and destiny of our being on this planet earth, in order to allow our melanesian spirit, culture, and wisdom to be freely expressed and shared, in order to help our humanity continue its journey. Melanesian spearhead group enterprise was overly ambitious now consider msg cooperation as a viable enterprise in subregionalism in the pacific. Most speak either one of the many languages of the austronesian language family, especially ones in the oceanic branch, or from one of the many unrelated families of papuan languages. The melanesian spearhead group msg trade agreement which is a free trade agreement that allows trade to take place freely between fiji, papua new guinea, vanuatu and solomon islands. The melanesian spearhead group in terms of indonesias. The melanesian spearhead group in terms of indonesias interest. Apec summit in pom is not just about papua new guinea and peter oneill melanesia news personal experience on our melanesian life and cul. The msg observer group msgog, on the invitation of the solomon islands. Melanesian spearhead group trade agreement rules of origin handbook contents 1. Melanesian spearhead group on west papua issue youtube.
A year later, the group established its headquarter building in port vila, vanuatu. Apr 25, 2017 the term also combines two distinct groups of people. Melanesian spearhead group and its relation to political. This year, as predicted, is shaping up to be one of great significance for the melanesian spearhead group msg and its constituent members. Still, many scholars had uncertainties regarding this race. Melanesian spearhead group pacific institute of public. In june 2015, indonesia was recognized as an associate member. A further expansion into the eastern islands of melanesia came much later, probably between 4000 and 3000 bc. Pdf the renaissance of the melanesian spearhead group. The fijian leader countered by organising what was initially referred to as an msg plus meeting later rebadged as engaging. This paper is based on one first presented in preliminary form to the melanesian and pacific studies seminar at the university of papua new guinea and the 19th biennial conference of the pacific history association held at the university of goroka, both in september 2010. They ordered a pilot trial of the alternative indicators in their countries, with the aim of developing a regional wellbeing index for the melanesian spearhead group msg.
Pp 2 18 the melanesian spearhead group in terms of indonesias interest 169 the free papua movement in seeking support from the melanesian spearhead group as mentioned in the previous section, the fpms attempts to secede from indonesia cannot be detached from their main goal of establishing an independent state, and one. It covers the period between january 2014, when a delegation of melanesian spearhead group foreign ministers visited the territory, and 15 july 2016, the day after melanesian spearhead group special leaders meet in honiara and decided to defer a decision on the united liberation movement for west papuas application for full membership. Agreement establishing the melanesian spearhead group englisch. Posted on june 19, 2014 by dfait posted in uncategorized author. General of asia, pacific, and africa under the ministry of foreign affairs of. The melanesian spearhead group and pacific regional. The msg is a prominent example of a subregional grouping among what looks to be an. The melanesian spearhead group secretariat has applauded papua new guinea for hosting the fifth melanesian arts and culture festival. The movement has observer status in the msg, whose full members are papua new guinea, fiji, solomon islands, vanuatu and new caledonias flnks group. A melanesian child from vanuatu particularly along the north coast of new guinea and in the islands north and east of new guinea, the austronesian people, who had migrated into the area somewhat more than 3,000 years ago, 9 10 came. Jan, 2017 during 2016, i suggested that the new logo for the melanesian spearhead group should be the gordian knot. Melanesian spearhead group msg archives free west papua. See more ideas about south pacific, people of the world and polynesian designs.
The case for action page 7 executive summary this report comprises an analysis of the direct economic and societal values of the ocean assets of the melanesian region fiji, new caledonia, papua new guinea, solomon islands and vanuatu and foreshadows the losses that are likely. Its members papua new guinea, solomon islands, vanuatu and fiji, constitute over three quarters of the population, land area and gdp of the broader pacific group of nations. As we enter a new year, the internal tussles are becoming ever more entrenched. The melanesian spearhead group trade agreement msgta was agreed in 1993 by these countries. A number of key issues were left unresolved after that meeting, most notably whether to endorse the next iteration of the msg trade agreement, and who should qualify as group members. The msg introduced a free trade area, which has so far avoided another biscuit war. Melanesian spearhead group of countries addresses sea cucumber. West papua, indonesia and the melanesian spearhead group. Liam fox the first and foremost of this is that indonesian sovereignty over west papua. Melanesian spearhead group meeting underway in kokopo. The wpncl is an opmexile dominated group set up in vanuatu in 2008 to bring all resistance movements into one body, after a meeting in malaysia in 2007 organized by deakin university academic damien kingsbury and funded by. At melanesian spearhead group, the question of west papuan.
The 18th melanesian spearhead group msg leaders summit was held in suva, fiji on 31st march 2011. Pdf prospects of a melanesian spearhead group investment bank. Challenges and opportunities jim elmslie executive summary this paper examines the convoluted process underway in which west papuan political actors are seeking to join the melanesian spearhead group msg, a subregional body representing the interests of a collection of south pacific countries. Apec summit in pom is not just about papua new guinea and peter oneill melanesia news in particular and with melanesians in general. From 10th to 15th february the melanesian spearhead group msg will meet in port moresby, papua new guinea and discuss the united liberation movement for west papuas application for full membership of the melanesian spearhead group msg. The recent renaissance of the msg would appear to represent a blend of two things.
The melanesian spearhead group secretariat was established in may 2008 after years of operating on an adhoc basic. In early 2012 the pilot study also caught the eye of the statistics for development division of the secretariat for the pacific community spc. Studies in their anthropology and folklore were published in 1885 the first one and 1895 the latter one. The official opening of the summit was held at the vale ni bose, blv complex and included a guard of honour followed by a traditional ceremony of welcome veiqaraqaravi vakavanua. As usual the officials will be meeting from the 24th beginning with the trade and economic officials teom meeting followed by the senior officials som who will be reporting to the foreign ministers fmm which meet prior to the leaders summit scheduled for the 31st. In almost a decade of existence, the melanesian spearhead group msg has shown its potential to be the strong man of the south pacific. Rules of origin are used to distinguish between msg goods and goods from other countries. An indepth interview was carried out with the director of directorate. Melanesians and where they actually reside onwest papua. At the noumea summit the chairmanship of the msg transferred to the flnks for the next two years. The long cry struggle for independence by west papuan melanesian was one key issue discussed at the 19th melanesian spearhead group leaders.
The msg is one of three subregional groupings in the pacific island region. Melanesian spearhead group secretariat annual report 2016. Geopolitically, melanesian spearhead group preferential trade agreement is one of the trade treaties involving the countries within the region. Pdf the melanesian spearhead group and pacific regional. Although the melanesian spearhead group msg has been in existence for. Dumont durville combined the two peoples into one group. The pacific island countries trade agreement picta, which seeks to establish a free trade area among the fourteen forum island countries fics. Countries established by article 2 of this agreement. The silver jubilee celebrations have been continuing, and today 20 june sees the annual leaders summit in noumea, at which point the chairmanship will transfer from commodore voreqe bainimarama of fiji to. The melanesian spearhead group of countries, namely papua new guinea, fiji, vanuatu, solomon islands, and the kanaks of new caledonia have over the years since the 1980s discussed a range of issues covering political, economic and social development affecting their grouping. Indonesia is insinuating itself into melanesian politics and its attempts to undercut melanesian support for west papuan selfdetermination. The melanesian spearhead group msg is a subregional organization in oceania where friendly diplomatic relations, free trade and cultural and technical exchanges are encouraged. Msg is fortunate in that it can, and must, extract lessons from the workings of pif and learn from the experience of other similar organisations elsewhere.
This thwas the 19 summit since the melanesian spearhead group emerged in the early 1980s and was formalised at a meeting in port vila of leaders of the independent states in march 1988. Melanesian spearhead group tess newton cain although the melanesian spearhead group msg has been in existence for more than 25 years, it is only recently that it has come to prominence within the subregion and more widely. Noting msgs cultural, historical, political and trade importance, fiji acceded to the group. Representatives from fiji, solomon island, and papua new guinea flew into east. Having been founded in port vila by the governmental heads of the selfgoverning states and the leaders of the flnks on 14 march 1988, the melanesian spearhead group was later admitted as a recognized institution by the international law in 2007.
The melanesian spearhead group msg is an intergovernmental organization, composed of the four melanesian states of fiji, papua new guinea, solomon islands and vanuatu, and the kanak and socialist national liberation front of new caledonia. Melanesian spearhead group leaders sign their joint communique in honiara on 25 june 2015. Many of the present southern mongoloid populations of indonesia, the philippines, and malaysia including singapore also have a high degree of australomelanesian genetic heritage. This week, the papua new guinea capital of port moresby hosted the 21st summit of the melanesian spearhead group msg, the first since june 2015.
Suva hq the melanesian spearhead group msg will be meeting in suva in march from 2431st chaired by fiji. West papuans given melanesia bloc access, but not full. Fiji is now the second party to sign after the solomon islands. Melanesian states and governments to contribute to the progress and. Codringtons two other works, the melanesian languages and the melanesians. The melanesian spearhead group msg was conceived in 1986 between the three melanesian pacific island countries pics namely papua new guinea png, vanuatu and the solomon islands. The 8th council of arts and culture meeting under the melanesian spearhead group has convened in kokopo this morning. The united liberation movement for west papua remains hopeful it will be granted greater status in the melanesian spearhead group. Does indonesia belong in the melanesian spearhead group. The agreement establishing the melanesian spearhead group and deposited with the united nations treaties section statesi the purpose of the msg is to promote and strengthen inter membership. New momentum needed for west papuas full msg membership.
Mar 14, 2014 and so no one needs to feel left out, here is a beginners guide to the msg. The melanesian spearhead group and pacific regional cooperation gordon leua nanau school of government, development and international affairs, usp, fiji abstract the melanesian spearhead group. Investing in the next generation, brought together 25 emerging leaders five each from fiji, new caledonia, papua new guinea, solomon islands and vanuatu to discuss common challenges, their hopes for the future of their region and opportunities for cooperation. She included the new guinea island as the place where most melanesians resided. Melanesians are the predominant and indigenous inhabitants of melanesia, in a wide area from maluku islands and new guinea to as far east as the islands of vanuatu and fiji. However, one issue threatens the group s core interests and imperils the whole msg project. Fiji signs newest version of the msg free trade agreement. With a team of eight 8 in all, the msgog observed polling in. Noting msgs cultural, historical, political and trade importance, fiji acceded to the group in. The european explorers have described melanesia as a unique cultural area rather than racial. Melanesian spearhead group applaud png emtv online.
Melanesian identity is growing in west papua, in resistance. In 20, the msg commitment to independence for all melanesian people was. Msgta came into force in 1993 comprising png, solomon islands and vanuatu. Jun 19, 2014 the wpncl is an opmexile dominated group set up in vanuatu in 2008 to bring all resistance movements into one body, after a meeting in malaysia in 2007 organized by deakin university academic damien kingsbury and funded by olof palme peace foundation john ondawame 2011. Goods must be sufficiently worked in the territory of a party. The melanesian spearhead group msg senior officials meeting was officially yesterday with the reaffirmation by the msg members on having the strengthened collaboration and renewed commitment as the foundation to advance the interests and enable comprehensive development of melanesian subregion an. Finally we consider the implications of indonesias lengthening arm into melanesian politics for melanesias regional political bloc, the melanesian spearhead group msg, and for west papuan. Midyear at the melanesian spearhead group devpolicy.
The opening of a permanent office in port vila, vanuatu, signaled a new phase for the msg group as it ventured into organizing and managing its affairs in a more structured manner. The agreement entered into force in 1994 and was notified to wto under enabling clause in 1999. One of its founding principles is to promote the aspirations of melanesians under colonial servitude to political autonomy. The melanesian spearhead group msg, a subregional grouping of the south west pacific, was the forum in which the two countries eventually resolved their dispute. A new article extensively covering the success of west papua joining the melanesian spearhead group earlier this year has been published in you can read the full article, a new hopeful chapter in west papuas 50year freedom struggle here a new hopeful chapter in west papuas 50year freedom struggle is an edited excerpt from the. At the same time it is a forum by member states to drive their national. Melanesian spearhead group briefing may 20 federal. Oct 06, 2016 ultimately, this growing sense of pan melanesian consciousness and identity marks a new hopeful era beginning to sweep through west papua and across melanesia. The formation of a ms gi b is a long process but feasible, however, the paper is of the view that with a certain time frame set for. It is making the region more economically integrated while sustaining its melanesian cultural identity. Prime minister voreqe bainimarama signed the melanesian spearhead group msg free trade agreement yesterday. Feb 12, 2018 the last time the leaders of the melanesian spearhead group msg got together was in 2016, for a special leaders summit held in honiara.
The renaissance of the melanesian spearhead group anu press. West papua for melanesian spearhead group msg youtube. Indonesian diplomatic maneuvering in melanesia challenges. Director general, peter forau while congratulating the government said png is unique and blessed with diversified culture and traditions that has united its. There are several strands to this knot with the issue of membership being the one that is proving the most stubborn to shift.