3) Large demos across West Papua meet with mixed responses by police
VANUATU Prime Minister Jotham Napat and new Melanesian Spearhead Group Director General Dr Anna Naupa reaffirmed support for the right of the Kanak people to self-determination and discussed the human rights situation in West Papua during their first official meeting.
The two leaders discussed decolonisation efforts in New Caledonia, maritime boundaries, regional initiatives and MSG trade policies.
A key focus was the ongoing decolonisation efforts of the Kanaks in New Caledonia.
The leaders also expressed concern about the human rights situation in West Papua. In 2019, Pacific Islands Forum Leaders passed a resolution in Funafuti, Tuvalu, calling for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua and report independently on the plight of Melanesians there.
That 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,” Napat said.
“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.”
The leaders also discussed MSG maritime boundary issues, which Napat described as critical to the region’s ocean identity.
Vanuatu has been in active discussions with New Caledonia and France, as well as Fiji, on maritime boundaries. Napat noted that Vanuatu’s boundary matters with the Solomon Islands were resolved “the Melanesian Way” in 2016 through the Mota Lava Treaty.
Naupa and Napat agreed the discussions were vital to align with newer regional undertakings, including the “Melanesian Corridor” and “Ocean of Peace” concepts. The latter was first proposed by Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in 2023.
Naupa also shared her commitment to revisit MSG trade policies to ensure agreements signed by Leaders are fully realised for the benefit of Melanesians.
“Dr. Naupa brings heart, intellect, and a deep love for our region,” Napat said. “Under her leadership, I am confident the MSG will continue to be the home of Melanesian solidarity and action.”
Naupa thanked Napat for Vanuatu’s continued leadership and hospitality and expressed her commitment to working closely with all MSG members to deliver on the aspirations of their people.
The Government of Vanuatu congratulated Naupa on her appointment and said it looked forward to a new chapter of cooperation, unity and progress for the Melanesian family.
According to Kossay, police chiefs in the three regions were able to establish effective communication with protesters, allowing demonstrations held there on the same day to proceed peacefully and orderly. He said the three police chiefs had provided broad space for Papuans to express their views peacefully and with dignity.
“I appreciate the Jayawijaya, Nabire and Mimika police chiefs and their personnel. They have genuinely learned about law and democracy. On August 15, the Jayawijaya, Nabire and Mimika police chiefs gave Papuans broad democratic space to express their views in public,” Kossay said on Sunday (16/08/2026).
Kossay also criticized the police response in Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency, which he said was repressive toward protesters, including KNPB activists and students.
“I want to tell the police officers serving in Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency that
repressive actions are unacceptable. They should learn from the police in neighboring regencies,” he said.
Kossay said the approach taken by police in Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency amounted to restricting democratic space for Papuans in the area.
Such an approach, he said, would not address the roots of the political conflict in Papua. Instead, he argued that the state, through its security forces, should build stronger communication with communities by adopting a persuasive and human rights-based approach.
Kossay called on the Papua Police chief to evaluate officers involved in restricting democratic space, saying they appeared to lack an understanding of democracy and humanitarian values as foundations of Indonesian law. (*)
Wamena, Jubi – Agus Kossay, chairman of the Central Committee of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB), has urged police in Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency, Papua, to learn from police chiefs in three other regions in Papua in handling demonstrations.
Kossay made the statement following what he described as a repressive police response that led to clashes with protesters in Perumnas III Waena, Heram District, Jayapura City, and Sentani, Jayapura Regency, during demonstrations against the New York Agreement on Saturday (15/08/2026).
He said the Jayapura City and Jayapura police chiefs should learn from their counterparts in Jayawijaya Regency, Highland Papua; Nabire Regency and Mimika. Regency, Central Papua, in managing demonstrations.
According to Kossay, police chiefs in the three regions were able to establish effective communication with protesters, allowing demonstrations held there on the same day to proceed peacefully and orderly. He said the three police chiefs had provided broad space for Papuans to express their views peacefully and with dignity.
“I appreciate the Jayawijaya, Nabire and Mimika police chiefs and their personnel. They have genuinely learned about law and democracy. On August 15, the Jayawijaya, Nabire and Mimika police chiefs gave Papuans broad democratic space to express their views in public,” Kossay said on Sunday (16/08/2026).
Kossay also criticized the police response in Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency, which he said was repressive toward protesters, including KNPB activists and students.
“I want to tell the police officers serving in Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency that
repressive actions are unacceptable. They should learn from the police in neighboring regencies,” he said.
Kossay said the approach taken by police in Jayapura City and Jayapura Regency amounted to restricting democratic space for Papuans in the area.
Such an approach, he said, would not address the roots of the political conflict in Papua. Instead, he argued that the state, through its security forces, should build stronger communication with communities by adopting a persuasive and human rights-based approach.
Kossay called on the Papua Police chief to evaluate officers involved in restricting democratic space, saying they appeared to lack an understanding of democracy and humanitarian values as foundations of Indonesian law. (*)
3) Large demos across West Papua meet with mixed responses by police
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