13 Jul 2016

Strong Fiji backing for West Papua - Ro Teimumu

5:14 pm on 13 July 2016

Fiji's Opposition Leader said giving the United Liberation Movement of West Papua membership to the Melanesian Spearhead Group was the most responsible action any Melanesian Leader can do.

Ro Teimumu Kepa said Indonesia sought membership of the regional bloc only to protect its own interest and has shown great disrespect for the concerns of Melanesians who feel that a genocide is underway in West Papua.

Ro Teimumu has declared her full support for the Movement which has applied for full membership at the MSG meeting in Honiara this week.

She said Indonesia had no desire to engage in dialogue about human rights issues and they have shown this many times in their re-framing of attacks on 'freedom fighters' and their suppression self-determination activities.

Ro Teimumu said she joins thousands of Fijians who feel strongly about the country changing its position and calls for freedom and for an independent West Papua.

She says by granting full membership, the leaders of Melanesia will directly respond to the desire of people who want an end to the violence ULMWP member's face.