A former Vanuatu prime minister Barak Sope wants Vanuatu to become a member of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation to counter Indonesia's influence.

A Melanesian Spearhead Group committee is meeting in Port Vila to consider guidelines around membership in the regional organisation.

Ben Bilua – The Leader of Free West Papua Movement in Solomon Islands has called on political parties to leave West Papua issue alone.

The Solomon Islands government says it's not in a position to respond to a warning from Indonesia's government not to speak out about West Papua.

Leader of the Australian West Papua Association (Sydney) (AWPA), Joe Collins, has spoken out against reports that Jakarta has requested Australia to pass on a message to the Solomon Islands to refr

During her visit to Indonesia, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Indonesia's Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu discussed efforts to deepen military relations at the 2+2 meeting held in Bali last F

Indonesia's Defence Minister has urged Australia to rebuke Pacific Island states who raise issues relating to West Papua in global fora.

There are questions over the effectiveness of a push by Indonesia to have Australia lean on Pacific countries to not talk about West Papua.

Aditya Mardiastuti, Nusa Dua – Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu has emphasised that the sovereignty of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI) cannot be challenged.

West Papua specialist Dr Cammi Webb-Gannon said the unprecedented level of discussion about West Papuan self-determination and human rights at the recent UN General Assembly reflected a new momentu

An academic specialising in West Papua says Pacific Islands peoples are taking the lead on issues of decolonisation within the region.

Suva – The request made by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) to Indonesia to formally respond to allegations of racial violence and discrimination against Papuans

Godwin Ligo – Vanuatu Prime Minister has reiterated the government and the country's stand for the independence of West Papua and New Caledonia, as unchanged.

Len Garae – Whether Papua New Guinea and Fiji attend the next Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders' Summit in Port Vila or not, come the second or third week of December, the Leaders of New Caledonia

Tonga's prime minister Akilisi Pohiva has told parliament that leadership without morality is due to fail.

Godwin Ligo – The Melanesian Wantok Summit organized by Vanuatu Free West Papua Association (VFWPA) and supported by the Pacific Islands Association of Non-Government Association (PIANGO) to coinci

A former prime minister of Vanuatu says the Melanesian Spearhead Group is becoming ineffective because of games being played by Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Jakarta, Jubi – The Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) condemned the statement by Pacific countries' leaders for what it called their meddling in Indonesia's affairs over West Pa

The Foreign Ministry on Thursday brushed off concerns that Indonesia had insulted no fewer than six Pacific Island heads of state, following a viral video of a junior diplomat trashing their allega

Godwin Ligo – The Vanuatu West Papua Association is hosting a "Wantok Summit" for Free West Papua Civil Society Organization support group in the Melanesian region of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Kana

The Papua New Guinea Government has reiterated its stance on the West Papua issue, saying that the Papua Province remains an integral part of Indonesia.

Indonesia has accused a number of Pacific Islands countries of interfering in its domestic matters regarding West Papua at the United Nations.

A representative of Indonesia attacked leaders of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Tonga for what she claims was 'lack of understanding on the history and progressive d

The Solomon Islands representative in Geneva, Switzerland, has repeated calls for Indonesia to allow a UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit West Papua and Papua Provinces.

Solomon Islands has again called on Indonesia to cooperate with the United Nations Human Rights Council to allow a UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to visit its Papua region.

Florence Syme-Buchanan – The Cook Islands Teachers Institute has initiated strong condemnation by regional educators of atrocities reportedly committed by the Indonesian government in West Papua.

A West Papuan leader has questioned whether the Pacific Islands Forum will hold constructive dialogue with Indonesia about Papua.

The Vanuatu prime minister Charlot Salwai says that Forum leaders at last week's summit in the Federated States of Micronesia reached consensus on reports of alleged human rights violations committ

Civil society groups are questioning the independence of island leaders in the Pacific Islands Forum while Australia and New Zealand are at the table.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders have been accused of hollow talk about listening to the people of the region on important issues like West Papua.

Although AWPA is encouraged that the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders have decided that human rights violations in West Papua should remain on their agenda, it was disappointing that no mention

Vanuatu's deputy prime minister says the strong support for West Papuans among the people of Melanesia should eventually translate to a co-ordinated regional response.

Pacific leaders' lack of expressed commitment to action the case of West Papua at their meeting in Federated States of Micronesia may be due to geo politics says Pacific Islands Association of NGOs

Giff Johnson, Majuro – A West Papua leader is the most optimistic he has been in years about gaining support from this week's Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Pohnpei, Federated States of M

Indonesia is impeding Pacific regional efforts to pursue justice for human rights abuses against Papuans the United Liberation Movement for West Papua says.

Nic Maclellan (Islands Business magazine) in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia – The issue of West Papua will be on the agenda at this week's Pacific Islands Forum, in Pohnpei, Federated Stat

A West Papua leader says he is the most optimistic he has been in years about gaining support from this week's Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Two more countries have joined the Pacific Coalition on West Papua, voicing their concerns over human rights abuses in the Indonesian province and asking that the United Nations intervene.

The Pacific Coalition on West Papua (PCWP) is gaining momentum with the addition of two new members and the confirmation of the membership of two other parties who indicated their profound support

Federation of Catholic Bishops' Catholic bishops from the Pacific region have voiced their support for the West Papuan people's desire to participate in the inter-governmental Melanesian Spearhead

Pacific women are calling for an independent mission to investigate violence against women in Indonesia's Papua region.

Catholic bishops from across the Pacific region have declared support for West Papua to have a greater international voice.

Avinesh Gopal – Pacific Islands Association of NGOs executive director Emele Duituturaga says the groundswell of support for West Papua across the region is the ideal build up to the upcoming Forum

Fiji – The groundswell of support for West Papua across the region is the ideal build up to the upcoming Forum Leaders meeting in Federated States of Micronesia says Pacific Islands Association of

The Tongan Prime Minister is calling on Pacific leaders to unite on a call for United Nations intervention in the Indonesian provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Andre Brahmin – On July 13, Indonesian delegates – angry because the Morning Star Flag, emblem of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP), was flown alongside other members

Following the move by the Melanesian Spearhead Group to defer a decision on the United Liberation Movement for West Papua's application to become full members, Vanuatu's prime minister Charlot Salw

Jane Joshua – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trades, Joe Natuman, believes other people are trying to use the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to drive their own agendas, saying it is simila

Dateline Pacific – The United Liberation Movement for West Papua says its campaign to become full members at the Melanesian Spearhead Group is not deterred, following the latest MSG leaders summit

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua accepts the decision by leaders of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to defer its bid for full membership.