The conclusion of the Pacific Island forum has left a great sense of disappointment. There was every reason to think that Vanuatu would be the prominent voice in the forum for the West Papuan demand for a seat at the table. As recent as June 19 the Vanuatu Parliament passed a motion to bring the matter of West Papua to the UN this year.
All the public reports leading up to the forum, and the private assurances to the lobbying being done by the Vanuatu Free West Papua Association even up to the Prime Minister, gave every indication that West Papua would be high on the agenda, and even that the representative West Papua delegates would at least be given observer status.
In his opening speech, incoming forum chairman Vanuatu Prime Minister Edward Nipake Natapei, said: "We need to be talking much more about how we can bring hope to the Pacific citizens who are struggling to find employment; who are without political freedom . . ."