HUNDREDS of West Papua advocators in Solomon Islands and the region have gathered at the SMI compound in West Honiara to show their support for West Papua as a bid for full membership is mounting at the Melanesian Spearhead group meeting this week.
Organised by the Solomon Islands Solidarity Movement for Free West Papua and the Pacific Island Association of NGOs (PIANGO), the rally has attracted Solomon Islands and regional student activists, CSO and church leaders.
PIANGO senior technical adviser, Laitia Tamata and special project officer, Akmal Ali have been in Honiara since last week meeting with the SI Solidarity Movement chair, Samson Faisi and executives of the Development Services Exchange to organise solidarity events for West Papua.
A peace concert was organized yesterday, where the Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga and the government’s special envoy on West Papua, Rex Horoi, was seen present, to show support for the Melanesian friends of West Papua.
Other Solidarity speakers for West Papua throughout the region were also present to show their support through presentations.
According to the organizers, a rally will be conducted today from the Honiara City Council area to the SMI compound at Town Ground, starting at 8am this morning.
Thousands of West Papua supporters will be present to be part of the peaceful rally.
Members of the public who wish to be part of the rally are urged to be at the venue before the given time.
By RONALD TOITO’ONA