Vanuatu's foreign minister says the Melanesian Spearhead Group may have to meet Papuan civil society leaders elsewhere after Jakarta thwarted a bid by MSG ministers to meet them in Jayapura this week.
Edward Natapei says the ministers' mission was to vet a bid by the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation to become an MSG member.
Mr Natapei says he pulled out of the trip on the eve of the scheduled departure when Indonesia released its programme which excluded the planned meetings.
Dozens of those who wanted to meet the remaining MSG ministers were arrested.
He says the situation isn't easy.
"Another option would be to actually organise to meet with the leaders of West Papua at a different venue to establish the legitimacy of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation."
Vanuatu's foerign minister, Edward Natapei.
