West Papua activist Wenda again denied entry into PNG

Transcript

The West Papua independence activist, Benny Wenda, been denied entry into Papua New Guinea.

Mr Wenda was invited to Port Moresby by the city's governor, Powes Parkop, to attend a conference and other events, including next week's Pacific Islands Forum Summit.

But he says his visa application was denied with no explanation, and his lawyers say there was nothing wrong with the application.

This follows Mr Wenda's deportation from PNG last year when it emerged he did not have a required visa.

Mr Wenda told Jamie Tahana he suspects he may be on some form of immigration blacklist in PNG.

BENNY WENDA: I was invited by governor Powes Parkop to various events in Port Moresby, including the Pacific Islands Forum the next week in Port Moresby, so that's why I apply my visa into the country. But then I tried to board the plane but then I received the email from my office that my visa is rejected. And it's a little bit disappointing at a human level, I don't know, there is no explanation in that email what my crime was and I followed the procedure.

JAMIE TAHANA: So you say you followed every procedure for this visa, it was rejected and you've had no explanation.

BW: Yes. I wait for two weeks and then there is no explanation, just last minute rejection of my visa.

JT: Has there been any word from Port Moresby or the High Commission in London about why, have you inquired?

BW: Yes. I got an email from the High Commission in London. There is no further explanation, just your visa is rejected. That's all.

JT: Late last year, you were deported from PNG again because of visa issues. Is this any link to that?

BW: Yes, I didn't know what, a technical issue, that's what happened, and I thought that was because of misunderstanding or a technical issue. And also the prime minister of PNG already stated that if Benny applied for a visa he is free to come in. So that's why I applied my visa to enter the country. But then again this is the second time. So I don't know the country decision, why they don't let me to enter. So I don't know their reason, until today I don't know.

JT: You have been to Papua New Guinea plenty of times before.

BW: Yes.

JT: Have you been back since that last time, where those visa issues saw you deported?

BW: No. This is after deported a few months ago and after I wanted to apply.

JT: Do you think this might be because you have been put on some immigration blacklist or something in PNG? What do you think it is?

BW: Yes. I think there's some sort of blacklist, I don't know what there is. Until today, there are various issues, a rumour going on, but no clear explanations. The fact I applied for a visa, and if there is some information, some document missing, or they have to tell me, then I can complete that document. But everything, my lawyer checked it, and everything is okay. She also engaged with the High Commissioner in London and everything is okay. And they forwarded to the head office in Port Moresby and I was really confident it was okay. But then last minute I received the email my visa was rejected. So I don't know on what grounds they made this very difficult for me to enter the country.

A call has been made to Papua New Guinea's Immigration Department, but they are yet to respond.