WE CANNOT CONTINUE DENY WEST PAPUA’S RIGHTS TO M.S.G: MANUARI
Free West Papua Movement supporters in Solomon Islands. Photo credit: Charles Kadamana.
Member of Parliament for West Makira, Honourable Derek Manuari says we cannot continue to deny the rights of the people of West Papua to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).
In an interview with SIBC News today, Mr Manuari says it is time for leaders in the Melanesian Spearhead Group to take a firm action to allow West Papua into the MSG.
“I would like to call on our leaders, the Foreign Affairs Minister and the Prime Minister and other Melanesian country leaders; that we cannot continue to deny the rights of the West Papuan people and it is time that we take a stern or firm action on this or else we’ll have blood on our hands.”
He adds West Papua’s application to join the MSG has been submitted several times already, adding, this year is special because Solomon Islands is hosting the MSG Leaders summit in Honiara this month.
“West Papua’s application to be a member of the MSG I think have been submitted a few times in the past, but this year it is quite special and important because Solomon Island is hosting the Melanesian Spearhead Group Summit this year, so that is why the Solomon Islands Solidarity for West Papua Freedom group in Solomon Islands, of which I am part, strongly ask the government to listen to the concerns of the ordinary Solomon Islanders who I think have overwhelmingly supporting the inclusion of West Papua into the MSG.”
Meanwhile, the Premier of Central Islands Province Mr Selwyn Mapulihas also echoed sentiments in support of West Papua’s application to join the MSG.
Premier Mapuli told SIBC News, it is high time West Papua is given its rightful place, equal to other MSG members.
He says leaders of the MSG must now vote for West Papua to join theMSG.
“I would also like to join others to make a humble call to all the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders to vote West Papua through the United Liberation Movement. I think it’s high time our Melanesian friends of West Papua be to be given some sort of recognition so that they are part of us. They have been sidelined for quite some time and I think we should recognise them, so I am calling on all MSG leaders to vote for West Papua and consider them so that they are part of the Melanesian society.”