14 Jun 2002

South West Pacific Forum called pointless by Papua group

3:31 pm on 14 June 2002

A group claiming to represent Papua has called on Australia and New Zealand to stop the establishment of the South West Pacific Forum.

The call comes as Indonesia schedules the first meeting of senior officials from Australia, New Zealand, Phillipines, Papua New Guinea and East Timor for next month.

The president of the West PNG National Congress, Michael Kareth, says setting up such a Forum is irrational, with the region already well served by existing organisations.