Melanesian Independence Front
Melanesian Independence Front | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | MIF |
| Leader | Vin ToBaining |
| Founded | October 17, 1968 |
| Dissolved | 1969 |
| Headquarters | Rabaul |
| Ideology | Islands Region Independence Federalization of Papua New Guinea |
The Melanesian Independence Front initially known as the Melanesian Independence Party,[1] was a political party in Papua New Guinea advocating for Independence of the Islands Region as Melanesia.[2][3]
History
[edit]In the 1968 New Guinean elections, Vin ToBaining was defeated by Oscar Tammur and left the Pangu Party. A few months later, at a public meeting held near Rabaul on October 16th, 1968, he was elected as President of the Melanesian Independence Party, who pledged to work constitutionally towards independence for New Guinea islands. The Front was also active in Bougainville.[4]
The Front has adopted the frangipani as emblem to represent New Britain, New Ireland, Bougainville, the Admiralty Islands, and other islands within the region. It submitted candidates for all of thirteen islands' electorates to the House of Assembly, and called for an independence referendum.[5] It envisioned the creation of a new country called Melanesia which was to become a member of the United Nations, and the British Commonwealth with the governor based in Rabaul.[3]
The party was opposed by The United Niugini Political Party and the United Islands Progress Society (Later merged into Islands Political Society), which reaffirmed the necessity of the Territory's unity,[3][6] and by the Anglican Church of Australia.[7] By 1969, the Party was dissolved.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Australia and Papua New Guinea 1966–1969" (PDF). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia). Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ Report of the Special Committee on the Situation with regard to the Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, Volume 3 (PDF) (Report). United Nations. 1974. pp. 200–201.
- ^ a b c "Port Moresby, Telegram dated 17th October from Administration broadcasting station Rabaul". Historical Documents. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia). Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ Collin, Katherine (2018-09-13). "Peacemaking Referendums in Oceania: Making or Delaying Peace in New Caledonia and Bougainville". Ethnopolitics. 18 (2): 139–157. doi:10.1080/17449057.2018.1513726. ISSN 1744-9057.
- ^ Clark, Claire (1973). Australian foreign policy: towards a reassessment. North Melbourne, Vic: Cassell Australia. ISBN 978-0-304-29955-3.
- ^ "Thirty-sixth Session: Provisional Verbatim Record of the Thirteen Hundred and Forty-Fourth Meeting" (PDF). United Nations Digital Library. 3 June 1969. p. 66. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Courier-Journal, 22 November 1968". The Courier-Journal. 22 November 1968. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
- ^ "Report to the General Assembly of the United Nations on the administration of the Territory of New Guinea | Catalogue | National Library of Australia". catalogue.nla.gov.au. Retrieved 2025-06-20.