Three Papua New Guinea politicians have joined an international campaign to support West Papuans persecuted by Indonesian authorities.
The PNG MPs reignited the controversial issue one week before the Indonesian government starts repatriating up to 700 Papuans who live in PNG's capital Port Moresby or towns along the shared border.
Port Moresby's Governor Powes Parkop says PNG had turned a blind eye and deaf ear to the issue.
MPs Jamie Maxton-Graham and Boka Kondra have also criticised PNG's inaction over the plight of their fellow Melanesians, who are an ethnic minority in Indonesia's Papua province.
Mr Maxton-Graham says he has been prompted to help launch and sign the PNG Charter of the International Parliamentarians for West Papua after seeing photos of atrocities on Papuans allegedly committed by the Indonesian police and military.
It is estimated 10,000 to 20,000 Papuans now live in PNG after they fled their homes on the Indonesian side because of few opportunities and human rights abuse.
