Onews,-- The West Papua National Coalition for Liberation (WPNCL) representatives based in Vanuatu met with Fijian Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, Wednesday last week lobbying for full membership status in the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

Those who met Bainimarama included Vice Chairman, Dr Otto Ondawame, Secretary General, Mr Rex Rumakiek, and former Vanuatu Prime Minister, Barak Sope.

These WPNCL members met with Bainimarama because he is currently the Chairman of the MSG.

Earlier on March 25 (the same week on Monday) the delegation met with Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, where an official from the MSG Secretariat was also present.

The WPNCL is seeking support from MSG leaders following lodging of an application for full membership in the Melanesian bloc on January 28, 2013.
In welcoming the delegation, Prime Minister Bainimarama thanked the visiting delegation for taking this inaugural visit to Fiji to formally request Fiji’s support towards the cause of the West Papuans.

The Fijian leader reportedly assured WPNCL that the Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders will ensure the application will go through proper process and that it is discussed at the next MSG senior Officials Meeting in June before it is presented to the leaders for their decision through the Foreign Affairs meeting.

Meanwhile, Mr Ondawame thanked Bainimarama for taking the time to meet with the delegation and hear from them directly, their reasons for submitting the application.

The delegation also commended the Fijian leader for leading the people of Fiji well during these challenging times and also gain more prominence in regional affairs.

They also noted that under Fiji’s Chairmanship, the MSG has advanced issues relating to the process for decolonization in New Caledonia, trade, economic and cultural issues which have strengthened the MSG.

Mr Bainimarama was also congratulated on his position as Chairman of the G77.
The delegation thanked Fiji’s foreign minister Mr Kubuabola for protocol arrangements his ministry had arranged.

Other leaders in Melanesia are also expected to be met by the WPNCL.

Mr Ondawame said that this historic meeting with the government of Fiji marks the beginning of a process that eventually will bring West Papua back, to the fold of the Melanesian family of nations.

WPNCL is the umbrella organization of the West Papuan independence movement based in the country with its international secretariat in Port Vila.
The objective of WPNCL is to organize and coordinate programs and activities to restore or reclaim Papuan people’s right of self-determination and independence.