Melanesia Roundup

Trailer for the up and coming “Freedom Fighters” documentary, following the Sport for Free West Papua movement in Papua New Guinea. We are very excited about this documentary which will feature World Champion Kickboxer Rickson Yamo as well as PNG Rugby League team West Papua Warriors. Massive thanks to Valilio Films Productions for this great […]

Solomon Islands is determined to keep West Papua on the regional and global agenda in the next few years because of the struggles of the people for self-determination and gross violation of human rights abuses’ in the Indonesian province. Since the admission of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) as an observer to […]

A new article extensively covering the success of West Papua joining the Melanesian Spearhead Group earlier this year has been published in wagingnonviolence.org You can read the full article, “A new hopeful chapter in West Papua’s 50-year freedom struggle” here “A new hopeful chapter in West Papua’s 50-year freedom struggle” is an edited excerpt from the […]

Vanuatu’s president Baldwin Lonsdale says it is the country’s hope that Vanuatu and Fiji will eventually unite to address the issue of West Papua. The Vanuatu Daily Post reports Mr Lonsdale made the comments as he welcomed Fiji’s newly appointed High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Esala Teleni. Vanuatu President, Baldwin Lonsdale. Photo: AFP He says Vanuatu has […]

Head of State,president Baldwin Lonsdale says it is the country’s hope that one day Vanuatu and Fiji will unite to address the issue of West Papua. As he welcomed the newly appointed High Commissioner of Fiji to Vanuatu, Esala Teleni,last week President Lonsdale pointed out that having such a bigger partner in the Pacific Region has […]

AUCKLAND (Pacific Media Watch): The Pacific Island Forum (PIF) leaders meeting in Papua New Guinea is a few weeks away and the secretary-general for the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Octovianus Mote, is in New Zealand to lobby the government to support human rights. West Papua is now on the agenda at the […]

SOLOMON ISLANDS Government will appoint a Special Envoy on West Papua and seek West Papua’s admission to the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat. Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare revealed this when the Secretary General of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP), Octovanius Mote met with him at the Prime Minister’s Office last Friday. Mr […]

I recently interviewed Benny Wenda, West Papua’s Independence leader, and am really proud that Profile PNG was able to dedicate an entire show to his struggle to win recognition – and ultimately the right to self-determination – for his people. The West Papua conflict – between the Indonesian Government and indigenous populations of West Papua […]

We are very sad to learn of the tragic death of former Vanuatu Prime Minister and true hero for the West Papuan freedom struggle, Edward Natapei. Mr Natapei was an outspoken supporter of West Papuan liberation and contributed so much towards helping the West Papuan people unite and gain international support for the cause.  Following […]

A Melanesian specialist says the West Papuan nationalist coalition that received observer status at the Melanesian Spearhead Group could follow a similar path to the FLNKS, which represents New Caledonia’s Kanak people. Associate Professor Tarcisius Tara Kabutaulaka, from the University of Hawaii, says while the decision to only grant the group observer status may be […]