West Papuans wait on MSG with bated breath

Transcript

West Papuans all over the world are waiting with bated breath for the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders decision on their application for membership to the sub-regional group.

MSG leaders are meeting in Honiara and are expected to make a decision on United Liberation Movement for West Papua's membership bid.

A positive result would give West Papuans their first official recognition in any regional or international fora since incorporation into Indonesia.

But a rejection of the bid would be a serious blow to the Papuan Freedom Movement.

A spokesperson for the ULMWP, Benny Wenda told Koroi Hawkins the movement has taken heart from the passionate speech delivered by Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare at the opening of the leaders summit calling for solidarity in considering West Papua's bid.

BENNY WENDA: I think this is really, really encouraging and for us we have been waiting for 53 years and this is the, you know our dream come true. Because the way that his speech that is the way that Melanesia should be, how Melanesian leaders should be so that is why we have emotion when we hear that when we are sitting and we hear this here in Honiara. So we are really confident that by his speech and it just grants us to look forward to join the MSG.

KOROI HAWKINS: And on the technicalities where are things at now are they deliberating on your application now when will you find out what the decision is?     

BW: I think tomorrow it will be anyway announced so today retreat so we don't know but we really hope that, we really hope that we grant full membership that is our dream and because that is all the West Papuan side want. But it is up to the leaders whether they grant full membership or observer but you know our application is for full membership so I think that is what we are hoping.

KH: And there has been some confusion over whether Indonesia has actually applied for its associate membership as reported in the media do you know anything more about this?

BW: As far as we know there is no Indonesian application for full associate membership. There is verbal and talking on the media. But we know that United Liberation Movement we applied for full membership this year and theres if Indonesia is trying to jump in and tell the Melanesian leaders what to do and to accept them as associate members then it is against the principle of the MSG itself.

KH: And the welcome or the feeling in Honiara how have you been welcomed into Honiara? There are a few of you I understand who have flown into the country for this.

BW: Yes we were welcomed by the entire population in fact there is a march last weekend and it shows the solidarity and the warmhearted welcome from the church level and solidarity in the villages and chiefs there were a few former prime ministers of Solomon Islands the were all welcoming. That is I think this spirit gives confidence to Prime Minister Sogavare to state on behalf of the people of Solomon Islands and on behalf of all their leaders. I think his speech is really amazing ever. And I think it is now time for the Melanesian leaders to show to the world that they can handle this problem. Because this is a longer struggle 50 years is enough so time for Melanesian leaders to look at this issue and bring West Papua into Melanesia.