2) Rabuka, Marape to lead Pacific mission on West Papua human rights
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1) UN human rights commissioner visit to West Papua on track, says Indonesia
Johnny Blades
Indonesia's government has indicated that a visit by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to West Papua is on track.
This comes as Melanesian Sperarhead Group (MSG) countries agreed to push Jakarta to facilitate the visit, after years of apparent inaction.
A request for the visit was made by Pacific Islands Forum countries back in 2019, but it has still not gone ahead, despite ongoing human rights violations in Papua.
A statement issued by MSG states from this week's Pacific Forum leaders meeting in Palau appeared to reflect frustrations that the visit has still not been facilitated.
The statement said that if a visit by the UN Commissioner's office was not facilitated by Indonesia in order for a report on human rights issues in West Papua to be produced by their next summit in 2027, then Indonesia's associate member status in the MSG will be reviewed.
The full members of the MSG are: Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and New Caledonia's FLNKS Kanak Movement. The United Liberation Movement for West Papua has observer status at the MSG, and Indonesia has associate member status.
'Constructive discussion'
In a response to RNZ Pacific following the statement, a spokesperson from Indonesia's embassy in New Zealand said there was "no discussion to review our membership within the MSG".
"We are always in constructive discussion on the issues deemed important by other members of the MSG, and we can also confirm that the said proposed visit is on the right path.
"As you may have aware that on July 2025, we already facilitate a visit from UN Special Rapporteur (for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Albert Kwokow) to Papua," the spokesperson said.
"We can agree that this shows good intention from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to the advancement of prosperity of all Indonesians."
Ongoing conflict in Papua
The long-running conflict between the West Papua Liberation Army and Indonesian military forces in Papua has escalated in recent months, causing mass displacement of some Papua village communities in the region around Highland Papua province.
In the latest reported violence, human rights workers told RNZ Pacific that four members of the Liberation Army had been arrested and killed by Indonesian forces in Yahukimo Regency in recent days, and another member seriously injured, while six civilians were also arrested during the incident.
The spokesperson for the embassy said that during the 62nd Session of the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner assessed "that force must not be used to pursue territorial claims or political demands".
"The sovereign equality of States, territorial integrity, and non-interference remain the foundation of the international order; respect for international law and the principles of UN Charter is non-negotiable."
The spokesperson said Indonesia supports "a cooperative and non-confrontational approach to human rights issues, based on mutual respect and national ownership”.
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https://fijisun.com.fj/news/pacific/rabuka-marape-to-lead-pacific-mission-on-west-papua-human-rights
2) Rabuka, Marape to lead Pacific mission on West Papua human rights
Mission to be facilitated with interested leaders and MSG Secretariat
Friday 04 September 2026 | 14:00
Ivamere Nataro-Tunidau I
vamere Nataro-Tunidau Investigative Reporter
Pacific Island leaders have recognised Indonesia's sovereignty over West Papua while urging all parties to protect and uphold the human rights of all residents.
The position was agreed to by leaders as the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Koror, Palau, ended yesterday.
Leaders had agreed in 2023 in the Cook Islands and again last year in Solomon Islands to appoint a special envoy to facilitate Indonesia's 2018 invitation to the UN Human Rights Commissioner to engage in dialogue with Indonesia and conduct a fact-finding mission in West Papua.
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The special envoy is to be led by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his Papua New Guinea counterpart, James Marape.
In a comprehensive communique, leaders further agreed to facilitate a mission involving interested leaders, in consultation with the Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat, and to report back to Forum leaders in 2027.
HIV and transnational crime
Pacific leaders have committed to a collective approach to combating transnational organised crime, with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon saying the issue is contributing to concerns over HIV across the region.
“That's very much the focus of us collectively working together to push back on the challenge we see around methamphetamine, particularly, which is then contributing obviously into HIV across the region,” he said, as the incoming chair of the Pacific Islands Forum.
Mr Luxon said the establishment of regular Pacific Policing Ministers meetings was an important step forward.
“We have instituted a Pacific Policing Ministers regular meeting, which I think is a fantastic step forward. The other part of it is what we call JHOPS, which is actually you know the joint heads of Pacific security coming together as well from each of the countries, particularly around customs, policing, defence, where we can share intelligence, particularly around drugs.”
China missile test
Leaders, except for the Republic of Naoero, also registered their concern over China's intercontinental ballistic missile test in July, which flew over several Forum members without adequate notice.
Leaders called on countries undertaking similar missile tests in the region to provide advance notification of at least 24 hours, in accordance with international practice.
They emphasised the importance of all states conducting ICBM tests doing so consistently with the Blue Pacific Ocean of Peace Declaration and the Treaty of Rarotonga, while respecting the sovereignty of Forum members.
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