In Papua New Guinea, hundreds of people have rallied in the capital Port Moresby to call for independence for the Indonesian province of Papua.

Some Papuans have been campaigning for self rule since Indonesia's annexation in 1969 under the vote of free choice.

Former parliamentarian and Papuan campaigner, John Tekwie, says the rally has been arranged to highlight the Papua issue while the Pacific Island Forum is still underway.

"We want to tell our leaders while they are here in Port Moresby for the Pacific Islands Forum, that, look, you guys have to stop pretending and make a resolution on this subject – take it to the United States and to the UN Congress to have this act of free choice rebuked," he said.