22 Jan 2014

MSG visit still worthwhile says West Papua group

2:41 pm on 22 January 2014

The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation believes a visit by a Melanesian Spearhead Group delegation to Papua last week would have been revealing, despite no meetings with civil society groups taking place.

The MSG Chairperson Victor Tutugoro, who is also spokesperson of the FLNKS in New Caledonia, has called for a special Leaders' Summit next month to address issues of importance to MSG cooperation, including the West Papua issue.

Last week's MSG mission to Indonesia and Papua, was boycotted by Vanuatu because the itinerary did not include meetings with groups concerned about alleged human rights abuses in West Papua.

The trip was meant to discover more about the West Papuan National Coalition for Liberation, which is seeking membership of the MSG and its vice-chairman, Otto Ondawame, believes the trip can still achieve that.

"They witnessed themselves Indonesian behaviour, they have to build their own opinion on the visit so I'm sure that Melanesia is Melanesian, not Indonesians, Melanesians have their own opinion on these matters."

Otto Ondawame.

Foreign ministers from PNG, Fiji and Solomon Islands took part in the trip.