Pacific leaders put Indonesia on notice over the long-awaited West Papua UN visit

Pacific leaders are stepping up pressure on Indonesia to allow a long-awaited United Nations human rights visit to West Papua.

The Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) has warned Jakarta that its UN associate membership could be reviewed if the mission does not happen.

The warning was made at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Palau last week and gives Indonesia until the MSG's 2027 summit to facilitate the visit and allow a report on human rights in West Papua to be considered.

Fiji’s Foreign Minister Sakiasi Ditoka, speaking as current Chair of the MSG, clarified that the group had not yet reached a final conclusion on revoking associate status.

"I think as far as MSG membership is concerned, we have not reached that conclusion... We feel that there is a lot of room for discussion in this area," Ditoka said, emphasising dialogue over abrupt sanctions.

Paula Makabory, a West Papuan activist, says the regional pressure is welcome but adds Pacific leaders need to turn it into action.

Pacific Islands Forum leaders have backed further engagement with Indonesia over human rights in West Papua, with a regional mission expected to report back in 2027. Photo/Pacific Islands Forum

“I think it's going to be great news if it comes to action for real, because it has been a couple of years that Indonesia is still not talking or even inviting the United Nations human rights commissioner, or her office to visit West Papua to conduct an independent investigation,” she told Pacific Waves.

Makabory, an executive member of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, has not returned to her ancestral homeland since leaving in 2006.

She says she does not know what would happen if she tried to go back. She wants Fiji and Papua New Guinea to push Indonesia for a firm timeline for the UN visit. Otherwise, she says Indonesia will “never open the door”.

West Papuan activist Paula Makabory is urging Pacific leaders to push Indonesia to allow the UN human rights office access to West Papua. Photo/Peace Movement Aotearoa

MSG told to go further

Makabory says reviewing Indonesia's associate MSG membership in 2027 is not enough.

She wants the group to consider suspending Indonesia if the UN visit does not happen.

“I think the MSG countries or leaders as guardians of our region need to stand up strong. They need to see that West Papua belongs to Melanesia and they need to protect their own kind.”

The MSG includes Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia's FLNKS Kanak Movement.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) has observer status while Indonesia is an associate member.

Octovianus Mote, an ULMWP representativem described the MSG decision as a "significant step toward accountability, transparency and recognition of the voices of the Papuan people", calling on Melanesia to remain steadfast.

West Papuan activist Octovianus Mote says Pacific leaders must use their regional influence to push Indonesia to allow the long-delayed UN human rights visit to West Papua. Photo/PMN News

The regional push comes after years of calls for the UN human rights office to gain access to West Papua.

Forum leaders first backed the request in 2019 and the MSG has continued to raise it with the UN.

Makabory says the situation in West Papua is worsening as humanitarian and environmental concerns reach crisis point.

She says more than 125,000 Indigenous Papuans have been internally displaced across several areas, which she attributes to military operations, aerial bombings and armed conflict.

She also raises concerns about the expansion of the Merauke food estate and mining, saying Indigenous land is being destroyed and deforestation is increasing.

The latest concerns come as fighting between the West Papua Liberation Army and Indonesian military forces continues in parts of the region, with reports of further displacement and arrests.

Indonesia responds

Indonesia's embassy in New Zealand says there has been “no discussion to review our membership within the MSG” and says the proposed UN visit is “on the right path”.

“We are always in constructive discussion on the issues deemed important by other members of the MSG, and we can also confirm that the said proposed visit is on the right path," RNZ Pacific reports.

Indonesia has also stressed its sovereignty and called for a “cooperative and non-confrontational approach to human rights issues”.

But Makabory says the measure of progress is whether international observers are finally allowed into West Papua.

She says humanitarian groups and foreign journalists should also be given access.

Despite being unable to return home, she says West Papua remains her homeland and believes Melanesian and Pacific solidarity can help “save West Papua”.