Exiled West Papua Leader and the founder of Free West Papua Campaign Benny Wenda says West Papua’s issue is a Melanesian issue.

Mr Wenda, who lives in England, is in the country with four other West Papua Advocate leaders who also live in other international countries.

He told SIBC News today they are in the country to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group Leaders Summit.

“Now we are coming back to the family and bring West Papua back to the family. That’s the main reason why we are here and to join the Melanesian Spearhead Group. We hope that our people out there could pray for us and this is one of the issues that is unfinished in the Melanesian region because the West Papuan issue is a regional issue and also Pacific issue, but particularly a Melanesian issue.”

On West Papua’s campaign to be a member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Benny Wenda says, West Papua will have a voice to speak out if it becomes a member of the MSG.

“If West Papua become a member of MSG, that means give us the voice to speak out about injustice, about security and also we can contribute some of our experience as well as look after one another better across the Melanesia because MSG stands for how to share common grounds and that’s why bringing West Papua to the Melanesian family is very important.”

Source: WEST PAPUA’s ISSUE A MELANESIAN ISSUE: BENNY WENDA | SIBC