Vanuatu Prime Minister Jotham Napat and newly appointed Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Director General Dr Anna Naupa have reaffirmed support for Kanak self-determination in New Caledonia and raised concerns over the human rights situation in West Papua.
Napat welcomed Dr Naupa to his office Wednesday for her first official meeting with the Prime Minister since taking up her role as head of the MSG Secretariat.
The two discussed key issues affecting the Melanesian region, including decolonisation, human rights, maritime boundaries, regional initiatives and MSG trade policies.
A major focus was the ongoing decolonisation process in New Caledonia and the aspirations of the Kanak people.
Napat and Dr Naupa reaffirmed the MSG’s support for the right of the Kanak people to self-determination.
They also discussed the human rights situation in West Papua and the 2019 Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ resolution adopted in Funafuti, Tuvalu, calling for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua and independently report on the situation of Melanesians there.
The visit remains pending approval from Indonesia.
“It is clear from this very first meeting that the new MSG leadership has not lost sight of the original vision of our founding fathers
“The MSG was established to give voice to our people, to protect our land and sea, and to stand together when one of us hurts. That spirit is alive, Prime Minister Napat said in a statement.
The two leaders also discussed MSG maritime boundary issues, which remain important to the region’s ocean governance and identity.
Vanuatu is engaged in discussions with New Caledonia/France and Fiji on maritime boundaries, while Napat highlighted the 2016 Mota Lava Treaty with Solomon Islands, which resolved their boundary matters through what he described as the Melanesian Way.
Napat and Dr Naupa agreed that maritime boundary discussions should align with emerging regional initiatives, including the “Melanesian Corridor” and the “Ocean of Peace” concepts.
The Ocean of Peace concept was first proposed by Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in 2023.
Dr Naupa also outlined her intention to revisit MSG trade policies to ensure agreements endorsed by MSG Leaders are fully implemented for the benefit of Melanesians.
“Dr Naupa brings heart, intellect, and a deep love for our region.
“Under her leadership, I am confident the MSG will continue to be the home of Melanesian solidarity and action,” the Prime Minister said.
Dr Naupa thanked Napat for Vanuatu’s continued leadership and hospitality and said she was committed to working closely with all MSG members to deliver on the aspirations of Melanesian people.
The Vanuatu Government congratulated Naupa on her appointment and said it looked forward to a new chapter of cooperation, unity and progress within the Melanesian region.
