MSG meeting to discuss West Papua bid for membership

Melanesian leaders will decide this week to accept, reject or defer an application by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua for membership in the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG).

Solomon Islands is hosting the 20th MSG Leaders’ Summit from June 18th to the 26th.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua was formed last year when Vanuatu hosted a reunification summit for West Papuan representative groups.

This includes groups who are lobbying for independence from Indonesia.

The groups came together to launch a new bid to join the MSG after an earlier application by a West Papuan group was rejected by MSG leaders.

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill plans to attend the summit and says PNG’s position on this issue was made known during bilateral talks with Indonesia President Joko Widodo in Port Moresby.

Last month O’Neill said PNG will endorse Indonesia’s application to be an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

He said PNG will work with the Indonesian Government to use its special connection with the Melanesian people of Papua and West Papua to encourage peace and stability.

Indonesia currently has an observer status.

Last  week an MSG senior officials meeting took place at Honiara  and this will be followed by the Foreign Ministers meeting tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday.

An official opening ceremony will be held on June 24th and the leaders retreat is to take place the next day.

The MSG is an intergovernmental organization made up of the four Melanesian states of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji and Vanuatu, and the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front of New Caledonia.

All of these countries have growing regional ties with Indonesia.