VANTUATU AND WEST PAPUA
Kastom and Faith in Modern Melanesian Nation-making (2)
MARAKI VANUARIKI COUNCIL OF CHIEFS
Peace-making Ritual for West Papuan Leaders
Fatumaru Bay, Vanuatu, 1 December 2014
Son of the Maraki Vanuariki Peace-Chief Mataso delivers the sacred club from Fel’s Cave
Maraki Vanuariki Chief Morris Kaloran and Peace-Chief Masato
West Papuan ritual participants assemble at Fatumaru Bay with Maraki Vanuariki Chief Morris Kaloran
Chief Morris Kaloran and Peace-Chief Masato with West Papuans (Alfonse Adadikam, Teri Yaram, Benny Wenda, and Jacob Rumbiak translating into Indonesian, and the ni-Vanuatu participants from Tongoa-Shepherd Islands
Chief Morris Kaloran and Tongoa-Shepherd Islanders, with West Papuans Jacob Rumbiak (translating into Indonesia), Fransiscus Uweng, Benny Wenda, Markus Yenu, Elizier Awom
Chief Morris Kaloran and Peace-Chief Masato with West Papuan participants (Alfonse Adadikam, Teri Yaram)
Maraki Vanuariki Peace-Chief Masato
Praying to God and Imploring the ancestors for help
Praying for Unity around the sacred club
Praying for Unity around the sacred club
Praying for Unity around the sacred club
Praying for Unity around the sacred club
Praying for Unity around the sacred club
The sacred heritage club is passed to Benny Wenda
The Reconciliation and Unity Ceremony brought about the first formal alliance between the Papuan (highland) and Melanesian (coastal) tribes
The shock of successfully forging the first formal alliance between Papuan (highland) tribes and Melanesian (coastal) tribes
Benny Wenda, Markus Yenu, Elizier Awom, Alfonse Adadikam, Teri Yaram, Jack Wainggai, Sabi Sambon, Chief Morris Kaloran
Maraki Vanuariki Chiefs Masato and Kaloran with the West Papuan participants
Frans Kapisa, Benny Wenda, Teri Yaram
Teri Yaram and Benny Wenda (West Papua National Parliament)
Benny Wenda with Jacob Rumbiak
Maraki Vanuariki Chief Morris Kaloran with Benny Wenda
Jacob Rumbiak (Federal Republic of West Papua) and Teri Yaram (West Papua National Parliament)
Teri Yaram (West Papua National Parliament) and Jacob Rumbiak (Federal Republic of West Papua)
Alfonse Adadikam, Jacob Rumbiak, Morris Kaloran, Benny Wenda
Jacob Rumbiak, Benny Wenda, Teri Yaram, Sabi Sambon
Alfonse Adadikam and Benny Wenda
Sabi Sambom, a journalist from the West Papuan highlands, recording the details of the Maraki Vanuariki Ceremony that brought Papuan highlanders and coastal Melanesians into their first formal alliance.
Participants in the Melanesian Kastom Ceremony at Fatumaru Bay on 1 December 2014 (Vanuatu’s ‘West Papua National Day’)
Tongoa-Shepherd Islander bringing cassava for the Maraki Vanuariki Procession of the Gifts from Fatumaru Bay to Saralana Park on Vanuatu’s ‘West Papua National Day
Preparing for Maraki Vanuariki Gift Procession of the Gifts
Preparing for Maraki Vanuariki Gift Procession of the Gifts
Tongoa-Shepherd Islanders from SHEF Province preparing for the Solidarity March
Tongoa-Shepherd Islanders from SHEF Province preparing for the Solidarity March
Jacob Rumbiak encouraging Benny Wenda, his former student, to realize the political responsibilities thrust upon him
Chief Seni Mao Tirsupe (President, Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs) joins the Solidarity March at Fatumaru Bay
Lining up for the Solidarity March
Amateus Douwe (West Papua National Coalition for Liberation) joins the Solidarity March
