Picture: Papua New Guinea Prime minister Peter O'Neill

Source: Radio Australia

Papua New Guinea's prime minister Peter O'Neill has pledged to do more to speak out on behalf of Melanesians in Indonesian West Papua.

In the past, Port Moresby has stuck firmly to its postion that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia, and has been reluctant to talk about human rights abuses or to speak on behalf of Melanesian separatists.

In a speech to a local PNG leaders summit today, Mr O'Neill said the time has come to speak about the oppression of brothers and sisters in West Papua.