Indonesia Donates US$100,000 to Melanesian Spearhead Group

TheIndonesia.co - The Indonesian National Police (Polri) handed over voluntary contribution to the international organization Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to help develop regional security strategies. The donation amounted to US$100,000.

"On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, the Indonesian National Police (Polri) is honored to host the Handover Document of Voluntary Contribution from the Polri to the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) to develop the regional security strategy," Head of the International Relations Division of the Indonesian National Police Inspector General Johni Asadoma stated after the virtual event, monitored here on Tuesday.

Asadoma noted that based on the results of the second MSG Police Ministers' Meeting (PMM) held on March 14, 2017, in Jakarta, representatives involved in the meeting welcomed Polri's initiative to partake in the financial contribution to support the development of the MSG Regional Security Strategy (RSS).

He stated that Polri was pleased to announce that this initiative could be realized during the handover ceremony of voluntary contribution and the transfer of funds, amounting to US$100 thousand, from the Police to the MSG Secretariat today.

Furthermore, Asadoma noted that Polri looked forward to collaborating with other RSS members and the Secretariat in utilizing and disbursing the contribution accordingly. Polri is also committed to hosting the upcoming 4th RSS WG Meeting that had been postponed since 2020 due to the pandemic.

"Polri will work closely with other RSS members and the Secretariat to decide a preferable date sometime in the last week of May 2022 and other appropriate arrangements needed to organize the meeting," he stated.

Given the situation in Indonesia is already in the post-pandemic recovery period, he noted that the Police had still been assessing the possibility of physically holding the fourth RSS WG in Indonesia. "Polri is of the view that constructive engagement between Indonesia and the MSG will continue to be mutually beneficial and always be cemented by respect and honoring the sovereignty of each member," the general remarked.

Meanwhile, the MSG is an international organization comprising four countries in Melanesia: Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu, as well as the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front from New Caledonia.