Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)

Crafted with meticulous artistry, these totems emerged from the creative hands of skilled artisans during the resplendent 7th Melanesian Arts Festival, an event that graced Port Vila with its vibrant cultural tapestry just last month.

The masterpiece itself, a testament to the fusion of tradition and innovation, hails from the gifted hands of Papua New Guinea's own wood carver virtuoso, Jack Kauwi. Its stately presence now adorns the façade of the Melanesian Spearhead Secretariat head office, an emblem of the enduring ties that bind these Melanesian nations.

The Police Commissioners Conference (PCC) and Police Ministers Meeting (PMM) are important constituent Bodies of the MSG that are designated for security issues confronting Members and provide appropriate advice to MSG Leaders for related decisions. Previous PCC and PMM meetings were able to discuss and advance a number of important security issues such as border and enhanced police cooperation.

This statement by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua chairman, Benny Wenda, follows the announcement by MSG chair and PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill that West Papua’s request for full membership has now been progressed to the Secretariat.

“West Papua is entitled to join the Melanesian family,” Wenda tells this newsroom in an exclusive interview.

“For 50 years we have been separated from our brothers and sisters across Melanesia.

“This is a sign of reunion with our family.”

Director General of Asia-Pacific and African Affairs of the Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Desra Percaya, made the remarks while addressing a MSG ministerial meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, on Tuesday, in his capacity as chief of the Indonesian delegation to the meeting.  

Indonesia has expressed its support for the application of MSG corporate plan 2018-2020 as an effective step to achieve the vision of “MSG 2038 Prosperity for All”.

Leader Benny Wenda expressed this after the status of West Papua’s request was announced yesterday.

Chair of the MSG and PNG Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, when announcing the adoption of agendas by the MSG Leaders as an outcome of their meeting, mentioned that West Papua’s request for full membership has now been progressed to the Secretariat for processing.

Leader of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, Benny Wenda, expressed he was satisfied with the outcome.