Activist told to leave

 By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

WEST Papuan leader Benny Wenda has returned to Australia after he was refused a visa to remain in the country, Chief Migration Officer Mataio Rabura says.

Wenda arrived in the country on Tuesday from the United Kingdom.

Rabura said Wenda failed to meet immigration requirements.

“He was told last year that if he wants to enter PNG, he has to fulfil visa requirements,” he said.

“But he did not meet those requirements, so he was told to leave. He will be allowed to enter after he meets the requirements.”  

Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Wenda would be refused entry if he failed to meet PNG’s immigration requirements.

He left on the 2pm flight to Brisbane, Australia, under the supervision of immigration officers.

Wenda, based in the United Kingdom, arrived with American-based West Papuan leader Octavianus Mote in Port Moresby to lobby for the Government’s support to include West Papua in the Melanesian Spearhead Group. The next MSG meeting will be held in the Solomon Islands in June.

Wenda was banned by the Government from entering the country after he and National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop staged a Free West Papua campaign in Port Moresby last year. 

Meanwhile, Free West Papua PNG chapter coordinator Freddy Mambrasa said they would assist Wenda in fulfilling the immigration requirements so that he could enter the country.

Mambrasa said Parkop had received O’Neill’s clearance to allow Wenda out of the airport terminal on Tuesday.

Wenda had to wait for about five hours at the airport’s immigration section before being allowed to come out. He was reportedly released into the care of friends but was ordered by immigration officials to leave yesterday.