Noumea, New Caledonia – Another group has emerged claiming to legitimately represent the people of West Papua are lobbying for recognition at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit, currently underway in Noumea.
Jacob Rumbiak, who is responsible for foreign affairs for the Federal Republic of West Papua, says his group represents the majority on West Papua.
"Our national congress was voted in by 2.5 million people, so we have the legitimate right to call ourselves the representatives of the people of West Papua
"We have the majority. If we talk about independence, then we must rely on the voice of the majority. The group in Vanuatu does not have any majority support on the ground in West Papua, Rumbiak told PACNEWS here in Noumea.
Rumbiak welcomed the resolution of MSG foreign affairs minister to send a ministerial delegation to Jakarta and Jayapura before the end of the year to investigate first hand human rights abuses in the province. The group will also try and determine who is the legitimate representative for the people of West Papua.
A senior adviser on Papua affairs to the Indonesian Government, Ambassador Michael Menufandu confirmed to PACNEWS the Central Government in Jakarta has endorsed the proposed MSG ministerial delegation.
He said Indonesia is ready to receive the MSG ministerial group, at a time convenient to the Leaders. "It may be as early as July or August around the time of our independence. The dates will depend on the timing indicated by MSG Leaders, said Ambassador Menufandu.
Central Government, he said, will allow the MSG group to meet with political, social, cultural leaders, local governments including victims of the so-called human rights abuses, said Menufandu.
The senior West Papuan Government official said the Port Vila based pro-West Papua independence group does not represent the struggles of people within the Indonesian province.
"We have to live in West Papua and fight from within. The government and provincial governments are made up of indigenous West Papuans who are trying to develop the province. The cases of human rights violations are not an everyday occurrence, said Menufandu.
He said there is a misrepresentation of the true situation on the ground by social media. "The representatives in Vanuatu are in exile and not familiar with the true situation in West Papua today", said the West Papuan senior official.
The application for membership of the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation is likely to be brought up by Vanuatu Prime Minister, Moana Carcasses at the Leaders Retreat today.