PNG Prime Minister’s Indonesia visit raises questions over West Papua stance
By DANIEL DRAGESET Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neill will travel to Jakarta this weekend for discussions with the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. O’Neill will discuss trade, the West Papua situation, border issues and an extradition treaty with Yudhoyono, Radio Australia reports. The visit comes just days before the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) meets in New Caledonia to decide if the West Papua National Coalition for Liberation will be granted membership. Support The timing of O’Neill’s Indonesia visit has raised questions on Papua New Guinea’s support for West Papua, Radio New Zealand International reports. O’Neill has stated that West Papua is an integral part of Indonesia, but has voiced concern about human rights abuses in West Papua. Several reports detail torture and abuses against pro-independence activists in West Papua. Border issues include people from West Papua fleeing to Papua New Guinea. O’Neill said he looks forward to discussing these i