22 Jun 2015

West Papua leader confident of Vanuatu backing

7:52 pm on 22 June 2015

The secretary general of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua says he is confident in Vanuatu's support, despite the change in government.

United Liberation Movement for West Papua secretary-general Octo Mote.

United Liberation Movement for West Papua secretary-general Octo Mote. Photo: Supplied

Vanuatu got a new government 12 days ago after a vote of no confidence.

The ULMWP's Octo Mote is in Port Vila ahead of this week's Melanesian Spearhead Group summit in neighbouring Solomon Islands, where the West Papuan group will be pushing for full membership of the MSG.

The previous Vanuatu government had been strongly supportive and Mr Mote believes the new administration will continue this backing.

"The support of the Vanuatu Government is not depending on political parties or any political leader. This is a nation's support and it is already passing a bill in Parliament, so I don't see any change. The change is in the form of the approach with the Indonesian Government - how we would deal with the Government."

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua's Octo Mote.

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