West Papua to lobby against Indonesia observer status

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INDONESIA should not become a member of Melanesian Spearhead Group, MSG, says the mission head of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation based in Vanuatu Andy Yamiseba

Mr Yamiseba said that if the Indonesia could become an observer then Australia could also as there are Melanesians living on islands in the Torres Straight

He said that the demand for Indonesia to gain observer status will see his organisation lobby Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands and the FLNKS of New Caledonia to oppose the plan.

He believes that at least Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands will reject the plan for Indonesia to be come an observer nation.

Mr Yamiseba said he hoped to met with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Dany Philip, who was currently in Port Vila this week to attend the European Meeting on Climate Change.

He said as long as Prime Minister Michael Somare was in power in Papua New Guinea, he did not believe PNG would support Indonesia.

Mr Yamiseba said that if the MSG leaders granted observer status to Jakarta, it will defeat the progress that has been already taken place.

Last year the Vanuatu Parliament unanimously approved a statement in support of West Papua issue and there have been widespread calls in Vanuatu for West Papua to gain observer status with the MSG.

Written by Hilaire Bule Monday, 07 March 2011 17:35