Indonesia through its five provincial governors in West Papua has been admitted as an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neill said late Thursday.
In a break from tradition where announcement of the MSG Leaders decision is supposed to be made by its chair, host of the summit, Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands, O’Neill’s office announced that Indonesia is an associate member of the MSG and that the United Liberation Movement of West Papua has been granted observer status.
The decision was made at the 20th MSG Leaders summit in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
The ULMWP executives and secretariat welcomed the decision of the MSG leaders on behalf of the people of West Papua, describing it as a historic decision for West Papua.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua applied for full membership at the instruction of the MSG leaders in 2013 and 2014.
ULMWP Secretary General Octovianus Mote says despite not getting full membership they welcome the decision of the leaders as it’s their first step to full political recognition.
