Indonesia says it's quietly hopeful the change of government in Vanuatu will signal the defeat of West Papua's bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Indonesia is quietly hopeful a change of government in Vanuatu will contribute to the defeat of province West Papua's bid to join a special club of Melanesian states.

Vanuatu's new foreign minister says the government will continue to fight for the rights of West Papuans in international fora.

The Pacific islands sub-regional organisation is considering a membership bid by West Papuans of Indonesia.

A number of rallies have been held in recent days in Indonesia's Papua region in support of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's application to become a member of the Melanesian Spearhea

Vanuatu's new foreign minister, Kalvau Moli, says one of his main focuses in government will be the issue of West Papua.

Civil Society Groups in Fiji say Frank Bainimarama's support for Indonesia's bid to become an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group is a concern.

A Solomon Islands MP is calling on the Melanesian Spearhead Group to ignore Indonesia and accept the application to join the group by the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

The Solomon Islands says it hasn't made a decision yet on the West Papua bid for membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Repeka Nasiko – Police Commissioner Ben Groenewald says funding has been received from the Indonesian Government for the development of the Melanesian Spearhead Group regional police academy.

Charles Kadamana – Hundreds of Solomon Islanders demonstrated their support for West Papua with an appeal for the government to consider West Papua a full member of the Melanesia Spearhead Group, d

Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama says engagement with Indonesia is the best way to handle issues of abuse in the Indonesia region of Papua.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has supported Indonesia's bid to become an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The country could gain significant economic benefits if it supports West Papua's submission for membership in one of the regional's powerful body, the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The spokesperson for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua says he's not concerned about Indonesia's bid to become an associate of the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

About 150 people turned out at a protest in Fiji's capital, Suva, on Friday to call for West Papua's inclusion in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Members of the civil society organization under the umbrella body of Solomon Islands in Solidarity for West Papua gathered in numbers on Thursday to renew their call on the Solomon Islands Governme

Ina Parlina, Port Moresby – Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neill expressed support on Tuesday for Indonesia's inclusion as an "associate member" of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MS

An outspoken Papua New Guinea MP says the Melanesian Spearhead Group has failed its original mandate and should be disbanded.

The Australia West Papua Association in Sydney has written to the MSG leaders on the issue of West Papua (letter below).

The thorny issue of West Papua has stirred controversy during a state visit by Indonesia's President, Joko Widodo, to Papua New Guinea.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to Papua New Guinea this week represents Jakarta's latest heavy-handed attempt to pressure members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) into

Basten Gokkon, Jakarta – Regardless of apparently conflicting statements from the Vanuatu government about the opening of an embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia appreciates the Pacific nation's interest

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi utilized the opening of the 60th Asian-African Conference Commemoration on Sunday to continue her diplomatic efforts toward Pacific nat

Siteri Sauvakacolo – Opposition leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has called on all Fijians to show their support towards their Melanesian brothers and sisters from West Papua who have been suffering for the

The general secretary of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua has been in Solomon Islands to lobby support for his organisation's bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Vanuatu's prime minister has downplayed the suggestion made by the foreign minister that it was poised to open an embassy in Indonesia.

Bradford Theonomi – A West Papua independence leader was in the country for the past week rallying support for his home country to be part of the Melanesia Spearhead Group (MSG).

The Commander of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force is looking into an unauthorised excursion of Indonesian soldiers into the country last week.

The chairman of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Victor Tutugoro, says a special summit is planned for May 21st to examine the membership bid of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua.

West Papua must be given full membership at the Melanesian Spearhead Group, says the Pacific Freedom Forum.

Sally Andrews – As the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) prepares to discuss West Papua's latest bid for membership, the 'Papuan problem' poses a significant challenge to Melanesian states, who trea

Vanuatu's West Papua Unification Committee has dismissed the credentials of a man claiming to be a West Papuan envoy.

Papua New Guinean prime minister Peter O'Neill has called on Indonesia to fulfil the promise of its former president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to reduce troops stationed in West Papua.

Port Moresby (PNG Loop/Pacific Media Watch) – West Papua roving ambassador Benny Wenda says he came to Papua New Guinea to personally thank Prime Minister Peter O'Neill for voicing concern and supp

Liam Fox – Papua New Guinea's government says a prominent West Papuan activist has been flown out of the country because he was travelling without a visa.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare and the new Indonesian Ambassador to Solomon Islands, Ronald Manik said they want to see a strengthened bilateral relationship between their two countries.

The West Papuan representative body applying for membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group says it always expected Indonesia's government to increase efforts to counter the application.

The Solomon Islands Foreign Minister says the Melanesian Spearhead Group as a collective supports the right of West Papuans to self-determination.

A West Papuan leader says Indonesian lobbying of regional governments should not dilute the case for West Papuan membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Papua New Guinea's media watchdog has demanded an explanation for why local journalists were blocked from asking questions about West Papua during an official visit by Indonesia's foreign minister,

Suva (The Fiji Times/Pacific Media Watch) – About 1000 signatures supporting West Papuan self-determination have been collected by the Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy (ECREA)

Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has completed her one-week tour of four pacific nations, including three members of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), which has jus

The Foreign Ministers of Indonesia and Fiji have agreed to intensify consultations together within the Melanesian Spearhead Group framework.

Jakarta – Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P.

Pacific churches have urged Indonesia's President, Joko Widodo, to honour an election promise to address human rights abuses in West Papua.

Port Moresby, PNG – Papua New Guinea Enterprises and State Investment Minister Ben Micah has rejected suggestions that the Prime Minister's announcement of a policy shift on West Papua was a knee-j

The Vanuatu government says it is open to dialogue with Indonesia over the West Papua bid to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Vanuatu's government has welcomed a call by the Papua New Guinea prime minister that the time has come to speak out against human rights abuses in West Papua.

The secretary-general of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua has been in Fiji meeting government and parliament figures as well as church leaders.