BY NED GAGAHE
Prime Minister Matthew Wale says the issue of West Papua should be discussed openly, while maintaining strong and friendly relations with Indonesia.
Speaking at an event during his one-day official visit to Papua New Guinea, Prime Minister Wale said the matter was briefly discussed with his Papua New Guinean counterpart Prime Minister James Marape, according to tvwan news in Papua New Guinea.
Wale acknowledged concerns over the effectiveness of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) in addressing regional issues, including West Papua.
“I think there are some disappointments generally with the MSG that it could be more effective and have more robust processes in place. That’s something I think we must continue together to work on going forward,” Wale said.
He said both leaders also discussed the situation in West Papua and the need for constructive engagement with Indonesia.
“We discussed briefly the issue of our people in West Papua. We want to be good friends with Indonesia so we don’t want to antagonise Indonesia, but we are concerned about the human rights situation in West Papua,” Wale said.
He revealed that the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister had suggested a dialogue with Indonesia that could ease tensions and encourage greater understanding.
“There’s no need to hide away from the issues of West Papua. There’s no need to sidestep any of it. We need to talk about these things openly and we want to say to Indonesia, we’re your friends,” he said.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Wale has been a vocal advocate on the West Papua issue and frequently called for stronger regional support for the rights of the Melanesian people in the Indonesian-administered territory when he was the Opposition Leader.
His latest comments indicate that while his government seeks to maintain positive diplomatic relations with Indonesia, it also intends to continue raising concerns over the human rights situation in West Papua through dialogue and regional engagement.
Photo credit: PM Press Secretariat
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