9 Jan 2014

MSG mission to Indonesia imminent

4:28 pm on 9 January 2014

A Foreign Ministers' delegation of the Melanesia Spearhead Group is reportedly due to visit Indonesia within days to discuss and observe West Papua.

The delegation's visit stems from a resolution at last June's MSG leaders summit in Noumea to engage more closely with Jakarta over issues raised about extensive alleged human rights abuses in Indonesia's Papua region.

The visit by the MSG is to commence on Sunday, taking in legs in Jakarta and in Papua province, according to the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation.

The trip was originally planned for late last year.

The Coalition's formal bid to become a full member of the MSG had been deferred by member governments pending the outcome of the mission to Indonesia.

The MSG is split over the Papua issue, with Vanuatu pushing for the former Dutch colony's right to self-determination while Fiji acknowledging Indonesia's control of the area as legitimate.