An outspoken Papua New Guinea MP says the Melanesian Spearhead Group has failed its original mandate and should be disbanded.
Gary Juffa, PNG Photo: Supplied
Gary Juffa, who is the Governor of Oro Province, says that the MSG's leadership does not act in a way that represents Melanesian voices.
His comment comes after the Indonesian President, Joko Widodo, visited PNG this week as high-level lobbying intensifies over the looming decision on a MSG membership bid by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.
Mr Juffa says that behind the scenes among officials in MSG member countries there's a growing resentment of the group's treatment of the Papua issue.
"They said disband it, what's the point? If it's going to be there to be dictated to by Indonesia, what's the point? MSG was set up to fight for Melanesian views and issues, not just be a trade agreement conduit, and not just be a muppet and puppet to the will and whim of say Indonesia."
