Indonesia's place in the Melanesian Spearhead Group has come under scrutiny from regional leaders and experts after allegations were made by Solomon Islands' deputy prime minister Manasseh Sogavare earlier this month that Fiji pressured other countries to accept Jakarta's bid to join the sub-regional group.
The leaders of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Vanuatu and the FLNKS indigenous New Caledonian pro-independence group granted Indonesia its associate member status in 2015.
But as Koroi Hawkins reports while Indonesia has secured itself a seat at the table it does not mean it is being welcomed across Melanesia.
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Leading delegates at the 2018 Melanesian Spearhead Group summit in Port Moresby, including Charlot Salwai and Rick Hou, prime ministers of Vanuatu and Solomon Islands (third and fourth from the left) and West Papuan leader Benny Wenda far right). Photo: Supplied