WEST PAPUA’S United Liberation Movement for West Papua has been given Observer Status whilst Indonesia is admitted as an Associate Member into MSG, following a tough deliberation of the five MSG Leaders yesterday evening.

Information of the decision was leaked out last night, ahead of the formal announcement to be made today by the MSG chairman and Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare today.

It is reported that MSG Leaders, due to last minute changes to their schedules, had to formalise the communiqué last night as some of the leaders will have to leave this morning.

Prime Minister, Manasseh Sogavare is expected to make the formal announcement this morning.

ULMWP had applied for full membership whilst Indonesia applied for an Associate membership into the Melanesian Spearhead Group.

Over the past months and weeks both groups have been working very hard to convince MSG Leaders to support their applications.

Indonesia, who took its Observer status in 2011, has applied to become an Associate member this time.

But relations between the two groups have not been good since Indonesia, on the other hand, does not want West Papua to become a member of MSG on grounds that they are under its Sovereignty.

Therefore, it claims ULMWP not to be true representation of the people of West Papua.

Indonesia claims that MSG should accept its application since 11.9 million of its population in Indonesia are West Papuan origin, and that should warrant them a member of MSG.

During the past few days, the atmosphere around the MSG Summit has been tense for both groups.

ULMWP, over the past days, has been hopeful after the government of Solomon Islands made its stand to push them through to become an Observer to MSG.

Manasseh Sogavare made it clear in his speech on Wednesday, urging MSG leaders to listen to the wishes and cries of Melanesian brothers.

That statement has not gone down well with Indonesia as the tense situation continues to build towards today’s formal announcement.

An incident, on Wednesday, between a West Papuan and Indonesian, speaks well of the tense situation between the two groups’ fight for their positions. During the incident, an Indonesian was pulled down by a West Papuan.

Indonesia, with a massive delegation, is also working hard, even until yesterday, during the arrival of PNG Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.

There were also private meetings being held by the Indonesian group with the MSG delegates in pursuit for support of their application.

However, the ULMWP has expressed how glad they are to the stand of Solomon Islands and hope other MSG members will hear the cries of their people in the hands of Indonesia.

FLNKS of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands are the three clear supporters of ULMWP application, although the last minute change in leadership of Vanuatu over the past weeks had placed Vanuatu on the fence.

Fiji and PNG had made it clear over the past week that they will stand by Indonesia.

Despite these media announcements, the final decision will come out today when the MSG Leaders’ Summit ends with the final communiqué announced.

But as of last night, the summit communiqué was already signed awaiting formal announcement by the Chair, Manasseh Sogavare today.

The signing of the communiqué has placed the ULMWP as an Observer and Indonesia as an Associate member.

The question now is whether this outcome will be welcomed by the West Papuan people who have been praying and fighting for the past 50 years for independence from Indonesia and seek recognition from MSG.

Meanwhile, as it stands, recommendations from the Foreign Ministers Meeting that ended on Tuesday have agreed on a level playing field for both applications.

And that is, for both applications to be considered into MSG.

This controversial announcement of the outcome before the Chair made the announcement has raised serious questions into the integrity of certain MSG members.

As it was reported, PNG’s Prime Minister, Peter O’Neil has already made an announcement on the outcome of ULMWP and Indonesia’s applications.

Meanwhile, this will be an issue for MSG leaders and the secretariat to look seriously into to ensure MSG protocol and processes are followed.

Indonesia through its five provincial governors in West Papua has been admitted as an associate member of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea Peter O’Neill is claiming last night.

In a break from tradition where announcement of the MSG Leaders decision is supposed to be made by its chair, host of the summit, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare of Solomon Islands, O’Neill’s office announced that Indonesia is an associate member of the MSG and that the United Liberation Movement of West Papua has been granted observer status.

“Today (Yesterday) is very a important day for peace and goodwill for our brothers and sisters living in Indonesia’s Melanesian provinces,” said O’Neill’s press announcement.

“Following discussion between the Leaders of Melanesian Spearhead Group countries, the groups has decided that Indonesia is to be admitted to MSG as an associate member, and be represented by the elected leaders of these Melanesian provinces.

“Further to this, the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) will be given observer status as a development partner representing the welfare of Melanesian people living outside.

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The announcement was titled ‘breakthrough in engaging with Indonesia’s Melanesian provinces.”

Officials of the MSG Secretariat declined to confirm PNG’s announcement or comment on its breach of MSG protocol. One senior official said all announcements would be made tomorrow, at the release of the summit’s communiqué.

“I look forward to having deeper conversations with Indonesia and in the true spirit of being part of a regional family,” O’Neill was quoted as saying. “We are all partners in facilitating peace and security in our region. I believe we have the respect of Indonesia for the honesty and genuine nature of our offer to offer cooperation on this sensitive, issue. I further believe that groups such as ULMWP appreciate that our intentions are genuine.”

O’Neill’s announcement came as he and the other four leaders of the MSG signed the communiqué at a dinner at the Mendana Hotel last night.

This event was also scheduled to take place tomorrow, but reportedly brought forward since Fiji’s Prime Minister would be returning home today morning.

No reason has been offered for Bainimarama’s decision to leave early.

As a result of the last minute changes in the leaders’ schedules, none of the local Solomon Island journalists were present at the signing of the communiqué last night.