Matthew C Wale

MP and Leader of the Solomon Islands Parliamentary Opposition

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

And...?

[Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka @slrabuka]

PM James Marape and I met with the President of Indonesia. The first trilateral dialogue following our appointment as the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) special envoys to Indonesia in relation to our brothers and sisters in West Papua.

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

What a farce!

[RNZ Pacific @RNZPacific]

'We're not judges': Pacific Islands Forum leaders confirm Baron Waqa is secretary-general
https://t.co/m8cpG03smb

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

We have high expectations

[Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka @slrabuka]

Earlier today, the Melanesian Spearhead Group Caucus appointed me as a Special Envoy to address the West Papua issue. Alongside Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea (PNG), we've been tasked with meeting the President of Indonesia to discuss this pressing matter.

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

@MavePSeda It's a tragic situation, the result of warped govt priorities. Hope you find alternative treatment

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

The real reason fo skipping the meeting is of course that Sogavare is staunchly anti US. This is yet another anti US decision. But not good fo our national interests

[Tavuli News (Solomon Islands) @TavuliNews]

Solomon PM prioritizes domestic issues over meeting with US President Biden at the US Pacific Island Forum Leaders meeting in Washington. In a press conference, Sogavare said he desired to address crucial legislative matters than spending time at the Leaders gathering @ginakekea

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

Judas! https://t.co/J0p5DFoULl

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

Cowards!

[Stephen Dziedzic @stephendziedzic]

Right. Finally have the MSG Leaders Summit communique. Melanesian leaders reject ULMWP's bid for full membership. No consensus. Benny Wenda and co will be bitterly disappointed by this, while Indonesia will be very pleased 1/

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

He deals in 'alternative facts'

[Terence Wood @terencewoodnz]

FWIW, speaking as someone who criticises NZ aid a lot, I doubt MFAT would have withdrawn or paused the budget support, or that if they did, there was probably good cause to. That's my guess, at least. https://t.co/Kc8n6hqKOM

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

He's happy to be the CCP's mouthpiece. He'll say anything for more money https://t.co/cVn0BY43Bg

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

I call for transparency on all agreements signed on behalf of people of Solomon Is. What in these agreements require secrecy?I'm concerned Soga has turned Solomons into a PRC's vassal state

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

He's "back home" in Choiseul? So much fo "not taking sides" in geopolitical struggle between PRC & US. Can't help himself

[CGTN Global Watch @GlobalWatchCGTN]

#Solomon Islands PM Manasseh Sogavare is on an official visit to China from Sunday through July 15th. Sogavare's visit comes over a year after the two countries expressed willingness to deepen bilateral cooperation.

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

Really? Our very own vuvale? https://t.co/4cT5ZCRebr

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

Noble vision of melanesians free from the colonial yoke. Admit ULMWP as a full member!!

[MSG Secretariat @MsgSecretariat]

The MSG Foreign Ministers Meeting (FMM) has successfully concluded with Members approving the outcomes of the MSG Senior Officials Meeting yesterday. Members reaffirmed the importance of the meeting and urged the Group not to lose sight of the noble vision of the MSG Founders.

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

And for your Pacific vuvale?

[Anthony Albanese @AlboMP]

Australia and New Zealand are more than friends.

We are whānau – family.

And from July 1, there will be a direct pathway for eligible New Zealand citizens to Australian Citizenship.

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

We're family. We don't get easy access & musn't complain about the obvious discrimination

[Ireen Rahiman-Manuel @IreenRahiman]

This is the official list of countries that have the luxury of visa free travel to NZ.
Not a single Pacific Island Country!

And this needs addressing.

➡️ We export largely to the Pacific.
➡️ We use their workforce.
➡️ We have deep relationships with the Pacific.
➡️ We are the biggest Pacific city in the world.
➡️ We now call ourself a Pacific nation.

It is a financial and geographical burden on so many Pacific Islanders to apply for visitor only travel visas into New Zealand. We are not asking for freebies in NZ. We pay for everything just like everyone on this list.

So what is keeping the PICS out of this list? Are we not good enough?
@CarmelSepuloni @michaelwoodnz @chrishipkins
It would be helpful if the government can look into this.

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

Congrats Hilda & God bless your ministry

[Hilda Lamani @HildaLamani]

It is an incred. Jrne with QICPE. A tough time of reflection, authenticity & suprting others. I know Sol Islands don’t recog. women as Anglican Chaplains, however, I am one. I wonder when? I wonder if pple will accept the Holy Spirit to change some beliefs & values? #chaplains

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

Great leadership by Fiji PM Rabuka. Now let's see what Marape & Sogavare will do. Time to right the wrong & admit ULMWP as full MSG member. No more excuses.

[Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka @slrabuka]

Yes, we will support them [United Liberation Movement for West Papua] because they are Melanesians. I am more hopeful [ULMWP gaining full MSG membership]. I am not taking it for granted. The dynamics may have changed slightly but the principles are the same.

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

Congratulations Prof!!

[Prof Dave Peebles @Prof_DPeebles]

Great to start work at the Australia Pacific Security College – really looking forward to getting out to the Pacific, and to welcoming Pacific friends to Canberra.

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

I'd say it's 99.9% of the story. But you could enlighten us if there are other elements to it.

[Dan McGarry @VanuatuDan]

No confidence votes in Melanesian parliaments are as cheap as chips, and have been for far longer than the CCP has been nosing around. Pretending that the personal enmity between Sogavare and Suidani is driven by geopolitical concerns is... er, not a complete telling of the tale.

[Matthew C Wale @MatthewCWale]

I join Andreas Harsono in calling for the release of the NZ pilot & other innocent victims of this kidnapping. I'm an advocate for West Papua liberation from Indonesian colonial rule. But kidnapping innocent people is unacceptable. Pls release them all https://t.co/jZW0F6QNtW