SBY meets Free Papua Movement co-founder

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 03/26/2009 5:48 PM

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with co-founder of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) Nicholas Jouwe at the former's residence in Cikeas, West Java, on Thursday, Antara news reported.

"The meeting between President SBY and OPM founding father Nicolaas took place in a friendly, familial and dignified atmosphere," OPM senior campaigner Franzalbert Yoku said.

Yoku said Jouwe, 85, who had been exiled abroad for the past 40 years, had used the meeting to personally thank the President for allowing him to visit his Papuan homeland.

"Jouwe asked the President to solve current issues in Papua in the best and most dignified of ways, so as to avoid any violation against human rights. He also asked whether the political prisoners could be released," Yoku said. (amr)