22 Mar 2018

Indonesia not in MSG to undermine West Papua freedom push

From , 6:03 am on 22 March 2018

Indonesia says it is not in the Melanesian Spearhead Group to undermine the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's push for self-determination in its Papua regions.

The comments come after a war of words between Fiji and Solomon Islands over Indonesia's admission, as an associate member, to the sub-regional group in 2015.

The Solomon Islands deputy prime minister Manasseh Sogavare accused Fiji of forcing other MSG countries to accept Indonesia.

But Fiji's defence minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola says this is not true.

Commenting on the row a Solomon Islands' academic Tarcisius Kabutaulaka said letting Indonesia in was a mistake because they openly seek to undermine the West Papua freedom movement.

But a spokesperson for Indonesia's embassy in Australia, Sade Bimantara says this is not true.

Mr Bimantara says Indonesia is in the MSG to cooperate in advancing its goals of cultural solidarity and development of the Melanesian people and  the region. 

Leading delegates at the 2018 Melanesian Spearhead Group summit in Port Moresby, including Charlot Salwai and Rick Hou, prime ministers of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands (third and fourth from the left) and West Papuan leader Benny Wenda far right).

Leading delegates at the 2018 Melanesian Spearhead Group summit in Port Moresby, including Charlot Salwai and Rick Hou, prime ministers of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands (third and fourth from the left) and West Papuan leader Benny Wenda far right). Photo: Supplied