West Papuan community wants publicity

THE West Papuan community in Papua New Guinea are disappointed that they were not told earlier that the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting would be held in Port Moresby.
PNG Melanesian Good Governance Organisation leader Steven Andambo said West Papuans had been fighting for years to become a member of the MSG.
“The West Papuan issues have been ongoing for 40 years,” Andambo said.
He said a lot of West Papuans were now living in Europe and PNG “as refugees”.
“The MSG is a very special meeting. If such a big meeting like this is happening, we kindly ask for media freedom,” he said.
“Our plan to organise a protest or demonstration to show ourselves to the MSG cannot eventuate.”
Civil society coalition partners general secretary Philip Kepan said such meetings should not be conducted in secrecy.
“It has been conducted without much publicity and it has being suppressed too,” he said.
“This meeting concerns the rights of the people who are dying every day under the military rule of Indonesia while going through the process of being a full member of the MSG and also for self-determination as Melanesian people. I do not see a reason why having a meeting under closed doors without much publicity.”