#WP4MSG. Photo courtesy of West Papua Action Network.

Source: The National

 A group representing West Papua people has called on the Government to review its decision to invite Indonesia as an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

The PNG-based West Papua People’s Consultative Committee chairman Bas Fairio in a statement described the decision by PNG as “controversial”.

“I am calling on Foreign Minister, Rimbink Pato to reconsider this decision to invite the Indonesian Government to be part of MSG,” he said.

“This invitation will underpin the new foreign policy on West Papua that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill who has applied politically correct language to consider one of the most contentious foreign policy objectives to be pursued during his tenure in office.” 

Fairio said the effort by Indonesia to be an associate member of the MSG was an excuse because of its failure to implement the Papuan autonomy law and to divert the world’s attention off Indonesia’s increasing human rights abuse.

“Indonesia can convince the world of its legitimacy on Melanesian soil, but the bar to reach is very high,” he said.

“We have evidence that genocide is taking place, and the MSG must act.  We call on the PNG government to approve West Papua’s bid to join the MSG.

“Every Melanesia country must stop the genocide across the border.”