Solomon Islands PM Raises West Papua Issue at UN

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Matthew Wale has raised concerns over reported human rights violations in West Papua during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Speaking during a session on decolonisation, Wale described the people of West Papua as “our Melanesian brothers and sisters” and said reports of alleged human rights abuses had persisted for too long and should be independently verified.

Solomon Islands PM Raises West Papua Issue at UN

Wale said Solomon Islands continued to respect Indonesia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while maintaining its friendship with the Indonesian Government and people.

He also renewed the Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ call for Indonesia to facilitate a long-awaited visit to West Papua by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

According to Wale, allowing the UN rights chief to visit West Papua would demonstrate confidence between the parties and create an opportunity for concerns about the situation to be independently assessed.

Meanwhile, Papua New Guinea’s position on West Papua has not been publicly stated during the week.

Prime Minister James Marape remains one of two Pacific Islands Forum Special Envoys responsible for engaging Indonesia on the issue. Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is the other envoy.

The Melanesian Spearhead Group has set December 31, 2026, as the deadline for the proposed visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

MSG leaders have indicated that Indonesia’s associate membership of the group could be reviewed at its 2027 summit if access to West Papua is not granted.