Vanuatu PM promises to end Indonesia
defence agreement and support Papua independence.
Vanuatu's
new prime minister has promised to terminate a "defence cooperation
agreement" with Indonesia and support independence for Papua province.
(Credit: ABC)
Vanuatu's new prime minister has promised to terminate
a defence cooperation agreement with Indonesia and support independence for
Papua province.
The move is one of 68 measures contained in an
ambitious 100-day plan for prime minister Moana Carcasses' new government.
The termination of the defence cooperation agreement
with Indonesia is item 32 on a 68-point list of what he hopes to achieve in his
first 100 days in power.
Mr Carcasses has also promised support for the
"Free West Papua" movement's bid to become full members of the
Melanesian Spearhead Group.
The previous Vanuatu government had developed warmer
relations with Indonesia and under the soon-to-be-cancelled defence agreement
Indonesia had provided some material support and assistance to the paramilitary
Vanuatu mobile force.
Mr Carcasses replaced Sato Kilman as prime minister,
who resigned from office in May.
He
is the first naturalised citizen to become prime minister since Vanuatu gained
independence 32 years ago and is the leader of Vanuatu's Greens party. Updated
12 April 2013, 20:21 AEST
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