West Papua welcomed into MSG with conditions

June 27, 2014

We are very happy to report that yesterday a landmark meeting was held in Port Moresby by member nations of the regional body, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and attended by the representative governments of Papua New Guinea (PNG), Solomon Islands, Kanaky (New Caledonia) and Vanuatu.
The Government of Fiji did not attend.

West Papua welcomed into the group with conditions

On behalf of the MSG forum, chair and PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said: “We welcome the interest and application for our West Papuans to be members of the MSG group but we are encouraging them to have an inclusive and united group to make an application.”

O’Neill, however, said that consultation “would have to be done with the Indonesian Government first.” to “ensure cordial relations continue with Indonesia.”

These incredibly welcoming comments by the Prime Minister come just after the Free West Papua Campaign in Papua New Guinea issued a letter to strong supporter of a Free West Papua; MP and Cabinet Minister Boka Kondra, and urged him and the MSG delegation to support West Papua’s membership and the Government of Vanuatu’s supportive stance on West Papua.

Free West Papua Campaign response

The Free West Papua Campaign fully welcomes the incredibly encouraging remarks of welcome made by the MSG in Port Moresby which marks a very significant step on the road to West Papuan self-determination and we continue to lobby and encourage all parliamentarians and MSG member governments to show support for West Papua’s membership of the regional body.

The Governor of Port Moresby, and lifetime supporter of a Free West Papua, Mr Powes Parkop held a press conference today in Port Moresby with members of Free West Papua Campaign PNG, and said that the announcement by the MSG to recognize West Papua after conditions are met was a major milestone.
Mr Parkop thanked the MSG leaders for their courage and is now raising funds for a meeting in Port Villa, Vanuatu, where the West Papuan self-determination and the MSG application will be discussed.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all supporters, including parliamentarians for all your unwavering commitment in helping West Papua to gain essential membership of this very important regional body which will mark a very significant step on the road to West Papuan self-determination and independence.

Thank you all very much