A former Vanuatu Prime Minister, Barak Sope, has condemned the growing links between Vanuatu and Indonesia, which he says ignores the plight of the Melanesian people of West Papua.

Mr Sope has been a long time advocate for the right to self determination in West Papua and says when Vanuatu was founded, a commitment was made that the country would not be free until all Melanesian colonies were free.

He says he accepts Vanuatu having diplomatic relations with Jakarta but granting Indonesia observer status at the Melanesian Spearhead Group was a step too far.

"Now that body was created to get independence and stand against what Indonesia has been speaking. So that is why I say we have got them to come in and sit down and be part of our partners and on the other side they are killing Melanesians and the Melanesian Spearhead Group was set up specifically for those West Papuans who have had Indonesia close the door with what they did in 1962."