Jakarta, IO – Indonesian delegation walked out when Benny Wenda, the leader of a pro-independence Papuan group, was about to speak at the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) forum in Vanuatu, Thursday (24/8).
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah confirmed the step was taken by the Indonesian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Pahala Nugraha Mansury as a form of protest. However, according to him, walk out actions are common in international forums.
“Walk out can express various things. This is because the Government of Indonesia does not recognize the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP),” said Faizasyah, per Detikcom.
Benny Wenda is the chair of ULMWP, a Papuan separatist organization that has the status as observer in MSG and seeks to become its full member. Moreover, Benny has declared himself as the interim president of West Papua.
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MSG was founded in 1988 in Port Villa, Vanuatu, a country in Oceania, east of New Guinea Island. Indonesia is a member of the group of ethnic Melanesian countries because the country has 13 million Melanesians living in its eastern regions.
“We are relevant to be part of the MSG,” said Faizasyah. (un)