Some MSG opposition to West Papuan group membership bid

Transcript

A special Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders' summit has been scheduled after last week's controversial trip to Indonesia to address issues including West Papua.  

The trip, which was boycotted by Vanuatu, was meant to discover more about the West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation, which is seeking membership of the MSG.

An envoy from New Caledonia's FLNKS says he will be recommending that the MSG can NOT accept the group's application.

Bridget Tunnicliffe reports:

One of the foreign ministers who went on a trip to Indonesia last week as part of the MSG delegation, says engaging with Indonesia is the only way to help West Papuans.

Vanuatu's foreign minister pulled out of the visit because the itinerary did not include meetings with groups concerned about alleged human rights abuses in West Papua.

Edward Natapei says the trip was meant to be a fact finding mission to discover more about the WPNCL, which wants to become a full member of the MSG.

Solomon Islands' foreign affairs minister Clay Forau says he respects Vanuatu's decision but believes they need to take up any opportunity to engage with Indonesia.

CLAY FORAU: Without that there's no other way that MSG can conduct a mission, we want to take it step by step and consult with the government of Indonesia regarding issues of West Papua and I don't really see any way that we can do that apart from consulting with the government of Indonesia.

The foreign ministers of Papua New Guinea and Fiji were also part of the delegation.

The MSG Chairperson Victor Tutugoro, who is also spokesperson of the FLNKS in New Caledonia, this week called for a special leaders' meeting in Vanuatu next month.

The agenda is still being drawn up but it will address issues of importance to MSG cooperation, including the West Papua case.  

The WPNCL believes the MSG visit to Papua last week would have been revealing, despite no meetings with civil society groups taking place.

Its vice-chairman, Otto Ondawame, believes the trip can still achieve its mandate.

OTTO ONDAWAME: I think if MSG members are really wise enough they can understand very well about who is Indonesia actually. For us it has become clear that Indonesia does not intend to solve the issue of West Papua.

But Yvon Faua, who took part in the delegation as an FLNKS  envoy, says their report to the MSG will say it's not possible to accept the application of the WPNCL.

Mr Faua says there are other groups that also claim to represent West Papuans and the people are better served if those groups merge.

YVON FAUA: See if it's possible to make those organisations to be together and still come back to the MSG countries to see about a new application for them altogether.

Yvon Faua says the MSG could take a role in getting the various West Papuan groups to work together.