Vanuatu's opposition leader, Edward Natapei, says the country should reconsider its membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Last year, when Natapei was Vanuatu's leader, he was involved in an acrimonious spat with Fijian leader Commodore Frank Bainimarama af ter cancelling an MSG summit scheduled to be held in Fiji.

Natapei was concerned that handing the chairmanship to an unelected leader undermined the democratic values of the MSG.

Since then Commodore Bainimarama has got the job and is set to chair a summit this week, but Natapei is warning Vanuatu should distance itself from the Fijian administration.

"We have to make up our minds what whether or not we value democracy or not. Vanuatu should consider seriously whether or not we should be participating in the MSG now that it's chaired by a non-democratically elected government."

Meanwhile, Natapei said he has grave concerns at the decision by the Melanesian Spearhead Group giving Indonesia observer status. Natapei who was the previous MSG chair said making Indonesia an observer is a counterproductive move.

He said, instead, the Melanesian people of the disputed Indonesian region of Papua, who have long pushed for observer status, should be given it and eventually made full members, in the same way as the Kanaks of New Caledonia are represented.

"I would express grave concerns about this initial move to bring Indonesia in as on observer of the MSG, because that is not going to help the cause of the Melanesian people of Indonesia, the West Papuans."

Natapei said supporting New Caledonia's Kanaks in their push for independence was a key reason for the establishment of the MSG nearly 30 years ago.