PNG Prime Minister James Marape, said PNG had abstained from supporting the West Papua United Liberation Movement (WPULM) full membership bid to join the MSG during the recently concluded Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leader’s Meeting in Vanuatu last month.
Marape made these comments in Jakarta yesterday, during his meeting with Indonesian President, Joko Widodo as a reciprocal visit by the Indonesian President to PNG in July.
Marape said West Papua ULM does not meet the requirements of a fully-fledged sovereign nation and Indonesia’s associate membership status also as a Melanesian country to the MSG suffices which cancels out West Papua ULM’s bid.
Marape went on to say the alleged human rights issues in West Papua the PNG Government had no moral grounds to comment on human rights issues outside of its own jurisdictions.
In response President Widodo said PNG Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso, will be invited to visit Papua Province to see what development is taking place in that region of Indonesia.
Widodo spoke of Indonesia’s commitment to building trustful and cooperative relations with countries in the Indo-Pacific region and extended an invitation to Pacific Island Countries Leaders to attend the Archipelago Island States Forum this October.
Other discussions between the two leaders include;
- Ratification and implementation of visa on arrival agreement for diplomatic and service passport holders, and agree that this be also extended to ordinary/private passport holders.
- The establishment of travel routes of the direct air services/flight between Denpasar in Bali and Jacksons International airport in Port Moresby.
- The opportunity for downstream processing gold from copper is immense which both leaders agreed to explore.
- Increase number of Papua New Guinean students to study in Indonesia.
Prime Minister Marape is expected to fly off to France after his visit in Indonesia.