Pacific Churches Call to Bring West Papua Back Into the MSG Family

The Pacific Conference of Churches continues to affirm its commitment to advocate and inspire actions in solidarity for the United Liberation Movement of West Papua (ULMWP) to become a full member of Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

This morning, the PCC hosted Civil Society partners alongside the ULMWP President Benny Wenda at a prayer vigil where the Morning Star flag was raised in Suva, ahead of the MSG Leaders’ Summit in Vanuatu next week. 

Mr Wenda presented the PCC General Secretary, Reverend James Bhagwan, with a new flag that symbolises hope and unity despite Indonesia’s blatant violations of West Papuans’ human rights. Reverend Bhagwan said it was significant to gesture linking the churches and people of the Pacific to focus their attention on the struggle of our sisters and brothers in Tanah Papua.

“PCC have been flying the Morning Star flag even though it was in tatters to remind us that while our family/vuvale in Papua are oppressed, displaced, repressed and face constant attacks on their dignity and human rights, they remain hopeful for their right to be self-determining,” Revered Bhagwan shared.

He said the new flag will continue to fly everyday as a sign of hope and reminder that the Pacific family is rallying behind the people of West Papua.

“You do not go alone to that MSG meeting, you go with God and with us in your heart, knowing that while you await formal recognition of ULMWP as a full member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, your Pacific Churches and Civil Society, the people of the Pacific have recognised the ULMWP as the political representative of the people of Tanah Papua.”

PCC alongside our partners will continue to engage in peaceful actions this week as we our support the call of the ULMWP and Government of Vanuatu to bring West Papua back to the MSG family by granting ULMWP full membership to the MSG and acknowledging the ULMWP as the main political representative of the people of West Papua.

Ends.