The Indonesian government and ULMWP are both engaging in a struggle for a diplomatic stragegy

The Indonesian government and ULMWP are both engaging in a struggle for a diplomatic strategy Lately the Indonesian Government and ULMWP are fighting for the right diplomatic strategy to seek support from member states of the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The strategy of the Indonesian government and ULMWP is very different. The Indonesian government has handed tens of billions of rupiah to some leaders of member countries of the MSG, in order to support the Indonesian government keeping the Melanesian people of West Papua in Indonesia.

However ULMWP is handing facts of human rights violations committed by the colonial Indonesian government in Melanesian West Papua. These facts are being told to the world, especially to the members of the MSG.

The diplomacy of ULMWP and the Indonesian government within the MSG and PIF is a test of faith for the leaders of the MSG and PIF member countries. Why is it a test? Because,

1. Is the Indonesian government to be supported in keeping the Melanesian people of West Papua under Indonesian government occupation, because it has been able to use bribes?
2. Or should the Melanesian people of West Papua be supported in being released from the Indonesian government invaders, whose military and police are committing human rights violations against the Melanesian people of West Papua?
I wish that I was one of the leaders of the member countries of the MSG and the PIF. I would rather save the Lord’s people in West Papua who have been arrested, tortured, imprisoned and killed by the colonial government of Indonesia. I would rather do this instead of accepting bribes from the Indonesian government to cover up its crimes against the Melanesian people of West Papua.

Buchtar Tabuni.
Chairperson of the West Papua National Parliament