Last modified: 2002-10-19 by sam lockton
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This flag appears on the photo of the flag raising ceremony of the indigenous
nations of the Pacific. The photo can be seen at:
www.awpa-melb.asn.au.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 21 June 2002
A Google search for "West Melanesian Flag" gave:
www.web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/index/ASA210111996
- about the death of Thomas Wainggai, with mention that his wife "was accused of having sewn the West Melanesian flag."
www.angelfire.com/oh/mEmeX/inigenouspeople.txt
- with mention that "Thomas Wanggai, a Serui-born civil servant, raised a new West Melanesian flag in the late 1980s."
Ole Andersen, 21 June 2002
I found some
biographical notes which clarify a bit what the "West Melanesian Flag" is
supposed to stand for. Quote: "Dr.Thomas Wapai Waingai was another person
who declared West Melanesia country on Dec.13,1988...he designed a new West
Melanesian Flag with 14 stars, commonly called by Papuans as "The 14 Groups".
The 14 Groups has the mission
to unite all Melanesian countries, 14 countries into one with the name of Great
Melanesia. Some Papuans argue that it is impossible and illogic to declare independence
for those 13 countries that are already independent and to say that a colonised
country can fight for free countries. The 14 Groups has a network of supporters
throughout the Pacific. The OPM (Free Papua Organization) and Papua Presidium
Council suspect them as backed by the big powers, including CIA and Indonesian
intelligence to divide up the struggle and to pro-long the independence of West
Papua until they take all resources from West Papua and they engineer the Papuans
to become Indonesians." (end of quote).
Chrystian Kretowicz, 24 June 2002
One of the members of the Melanesian yahoo group suggested to me an explanation
for the number (14) of the stars featured on the flag. According to him there
are 7 Melanesian countries:
Papua New Guinea
Bougainville - Me'ekamui
Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
New Caledonia - Kanaky
Fiji
Torres Strait Islands
and West Papua comprised of 7 traditional districts,
which are symbolized by the seven blue stripes on the Morning
Star flag.
All of it accounts to 14. I guess it makes sense, but would like a more authoritative
explanation.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 11 July 2002
In response to my question [...] about the meaning of the 14 stars represented
on the flag of West Melanesia I did receive a reply [...] stating: "The
14 Stars was the date of independence according to the leader of the West Melanesian
Leader Thomas Wanggai (14 December)".
by Chrystian Kretowicz, 14 September 2002
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