Port Moresby, PNG – The Free West Papua Campaign PNG chapter is appealing to the members of Parliament for the West Papua's membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

In a letter to the Papua New Guinea Minister for Culture and Tourism Boka Kondra, the group has targetted the Melanesian Spearhead Group Meeting which starts today to appeal for West Papua's application for membership.

The Post-Courier understands the application for membership will be deliberated at the special MSG meeting. The group said the PNG government has agreed with other MSG leaders on three significant decisions on West Papua's right at last year's MSG meeting.

These are to: recognise West Papua's right to self determination, recognise human rights abuse taking place in West Papua and to raise the issues through international mechanisms and for West Papua to become a member of MSG by the West Papua National Coalition for liberation.

The group is aware that MSG countries are supporting the plight for self determination advocated by churches through the PNG Council of Churches, the Pacific Council of Churches and World Council of Churches.

They stated it would be a historical decision if MSG supported the plight for self-determination. They have urged the support the Vanuatu Government, for a resolution on a Special Rapporteur on West Papua.

Vanuatu government presented the West Papua Human Rights issues to the UN calling for a resolution on Special Rapporteur on West Papua.

The group also dismissed Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato's claims that he did not see any evidence of human rights abuse during the MSG Foreign Ministers' fact finding mission to West Papua early this year.

The letter has raised serious concerns of human rights abuses in Papua and that the abuses are real and may lead to the extinction of West Papuans.

Further, the group states that interventions such as the free trade policy between Indonesia and PNG, the establishment Fiji Military and police academy and Indonesian observer status in MSG is a clear sign of Indonesian influence in the Melanesian region.

Meanwhile, Melanesian Prime ministers, ministers and 362 participants arrived in Port Moresby to participate in the 5th Melanesian Festival of Arts and Culture and to attend the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting.

Solomon Island's Prime Minister Gordon Darcy Lilo, Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman along with their ministers and a total of 256 participants from New Caledonia and 106 from Fiji all arrived Wednesday at the Jacksons International airport.

On hand to welcome the visitors on behalf of the government was the Minister for State Owned Enterprises, Ben Micah.

"I represent the PNG government to give a kind welcome to these two PM's and other foreign ministers that travelled along with them," Minister Micah said. He said the politicians have been anticipating the good meeting today to discuss many issues relating to the region and countries in the Melanesian zone.

"We have adjourned the parliament seating because approximately thousands of visitors would come into the city as well our own provinces in PNG," said Minister Micah.

Minister Micah said the festival as well as the MSG meeting would be the biggest gathering for the Melanesian people and it would be good if they focused more on hosting for the visitors.

Source: http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/papua-new-guinea/5647/west-papuas-plea-to-msg/