On behalf of the ULMWP Provisional Government and the people of West Papua, I would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Pastor Allen for his recent death. This is a sad day for the people of Vanuatu and West Papua, and for all people in Melanesia and the Pacific.
Pastor Allen was the Chairman of the Vanuatu West Papua Unification and Association Committee and Chair of the Vanuatu branch of the Pacific Council of Churches. He was a father of Melanesia and the Pacific. For the people of West Papua, this is a great loss – but we also celebrate his legacy. He helped combine the destiny of the people of West Papua with the Republic of Vanuatu.
In 2014, when Pastor Allen became Chair of the Unification Committee, he worked with the Government of Vanuatu and the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs to bring West Papuan unity. Never in the history of our struggle have we achieved this unity before. With his courage and dedication, we managed to unite and have brought West Papua closer than ever to the Melanesian family.
As Pastor Allen always stated, ‘It is the dream of our founding father, Walter Lini, that all Melanesia shall be free when every Melanesian is free, including West Papua and Kanak. God calls for all His sheep to return. West Papua is a lost sheep, and God has called me to help return West Papua to the family.’ He was confident that one day that dream would become a reality, and we are further along that road than ever before, thanks in no small part to the tireless work of Pastor Allen. He has left a great legacy for the next generation.
The people of West Papua and the ULMWP offices on the ground will be in mourning for the next few days. We will pray and think of the family and people of Vanuatu for the loss of this great leader. One day when West Papua is free, uniting all of Melanesia, we can celebrate his legacy together.
Long God yumi sanap. One people one soul. God bless.
Benny Wenda
Interim President
ULMWP Provisional Government
