Govt claims diplomatic ‘victory’ on Papua

JAKARTA. The government has claimed a diplomatic “victory” after blocking a Papuan separatist movement from becoming a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).    

Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has confirmed that Indonesia's negotiations with MSG members had turned out in the country's favor, with the group rejecting the full membership bid of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP).

"Indonesia's position in the group has been well received [...] we will propose taking full membership in the MSG soon," Luhut said.

The retired army general asserted that Indonesia's proposal to become a full member of the MSG would begin as soon as possible.

MSG is a subregional grouping in the Pacific, comprising Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia. Indonesia attained associate member status during the last MSG conference, which was held in the Solomon Islands in 2015.

Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi praised the work of the delegation, headed by Desra Percaya, and asserted that Papua fully belonged to Indonesia, saying that it will remain part of Indonesia forever. (Marguerite Afra Sapiie)