Solidarity march for West Papua

The blue, white and read colours of the Morning Star took over the main street of Honiara, capital of Solomon Islands early Friday, as locals showed their support for West Papua.

Among the marchers were community leaders, politicians, church ministers and youth advocates.

Journalists estimated the crowd at over 200 that marched from the town's central market to the main government building, not far from the office of Prime Minister Mannaseh Sogavare.

One of Sogavare's daughters and a niece were among the pro-West Papua marchers, and it came a day after Sogavare announced that his government would not support the West Papua pro-independence's application for full membership of the MSG.

An observer status for the group would be more acceptable, he said.

Not far from where the march ended is Heritage Park Hotel where senior officials of the Melanesian Spearhead Group are meeting to finalise the agenda of their Leaders biennial summit at the same venue next week.