Indonesia donates $500,000 to Fiji-based regional police academy

Indonesia donated 500,000 U.S. dollars Wednesday to the soon to be established Fiji-based Melanesian Spearhead Group's (MSG) Regional Police Academy, the Fijian government announced. Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama received the donation on behalf of the Melanesian Spearhead Group from the Indonesian government's Secretary of Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Lieutenant General Langgeng Sulistiyono, who led a delegation to meet with Bainimarama at his office, according to the Ministry of Information. While thanking the Indonesian government for the assistance, Bainimarama said it would go towards the establishment of an academy designed to boost the region's police force. Sulistiyono said the assistance is a firm commitment of the Indonesian people towards the Melanesian Spearhead Group in the establishment of the regional police academy. "We are also inviting all the leaders from the MSG countries to visit Indonesia to build closer relations and allow better cooperation between these ministers," Sulistiyono said. Fiji is taking a lead role in establishing the academy, which will be based in Fiji to train police officers from the five Melanesian Spearhead Group countries, said the Ministry of Information. As an intergovernmental organization, the Melanesian Spearhead Group consists of Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, as well as the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front ( FLNKS) of New Caledonia.