In Vanuatu, a petition has been presented to the Melanesian Spearhead Group, with the signatures of 150,000 West Papuans.
A delegate of the United Liberation Movement of West Papua, Amatus Douw, presented them to the new Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Sato Kilman.
Mr Douw says he has already met with Moana Carcasses, a former Vanuatu Prime Minister and West Papua supporter, who assured him of his support for West Papua's application.
However, Mr Kilman has traditionally been close to Jakarta and there are doubts he will lend his support to the bid.
The United Liberation Movement for West Papua at Melanesian Spearhead Group secretariat in Vanuatu Photo: CC BY-SA 3.0 Dan McGarry