Jayapura, Jubi – Reigning Miss Pacific Islands, and the first beauty queen from Papua New Guinea to carry the regional crown, says she doesnt have any involvement with the Free West Papua Campaign.
Abigail E. K Havora was in the territory for the Miss American Samoa Pageant over the weekend.
The campaign has garnered the support of several leaders from the Pacific and around the world.
A Pacific Coalition on West Papua (PCWP) was initiated by Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands who is also the Chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group .
The Indigenous Papuans have been fighting for self-determination, more than 40 years after Indonesia acquired the territory.
Many have been tortured, raped and killed including women and children and the cry for help have been heard louder through the various advocate groups from around the Pacific islands and some from around the world supporting the Free West Papua Campaign.
Miss Havora when approached by KHJ News and asked of her position on this issue had this to say.
“I can’t really no comment on West Papua issue. Like miss PNG, i can’t really comment on that issue. Because this is high political issue. But i am Papua New Guinean, i am aware on it and i stand for their right,” Miss Havora said.
The Pacific Coalition on West Papua (PCWP) which recently met in Honolulu, now has the backing of eight Pacific nations.
Just three years ago there was only one nation standing up for West Papua and now the list is growing all the time.
Prime Minister Sogavare said the nations of the Pacific have a duty as closest neigbours to West Papua to address the issues of concern to West Papuan.
He said the right to self-determination being denied to the people of West Papua since the last 50 years is a fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter, just like the rights to life and dignity that they are also denied as a result of their self-determination. (*)
