22 Dec 2016

Vanuatu PM reiterates West Papua support

1:02 pm on 22 December 2016

The prime minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai says his country's position on West Papua remains unchanged and will not change.

The Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai.

The Prime Minister of Vanuatu Charlot Salwai. Photo: ITU Pictures / R. Farrell

Mr Salwai said government and people of Vanuatu are behind West Papua to address the issue of human rights violations by Indonesia and the independence of the Melanesian people of West Papua.

He made the comment this morning when he received a high level delegation of West Papuans who are in Port Vila as the Melanesian Spearhead Group meets.

Although the MSG is split on the issue, Mr Salwai also said that he was happy with the progress so far in the international campaign of West Papua.

He also reiterated his support for New Caledonia's Kanaks in their decolonisation and French Polynesia at an regional and international level.

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