The Vanuatu Civil Society, led by the Vanuatu Association of Non-Government Organization (VANGO) has called on the Government to urgently meet with the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders to ensure that the mission proposed at the recent Pacific Islands Forum proceeds and a report is provided immediately.
This call was made through a petition to the government by members of the civil society.
The group commended the Vanuatu Government for raising the West Papua issue at the recent 50th Pacific Islands Forum meeting in Tuvalu.
The civil society group consists of VANGO in collaboration with Pacific Association of NGOs (PIANGO), Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs, Vanuatu Christian Council, Vanuatu National Council of Women, Vanuatu National Youth Council and the Vanuatu Free West papua Association.
The petition raised concern about the racial abuse that sparked riot in East Java, the ban of internet access and the military presence in West Papua.
The civil society expressed solidarity with resolution 37 of the Pacific Islands Forum meeting that calls for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to urgently conduct a mission to investigate the reported human rights abuses in West Papua.
A call was also made to the Indonesian Government to allow access to information on the emergency situation and to allow foreign media to have unrestricted access to West Papua.