Indonesia moves to repatriate West Papuans
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thousand West Papuan freedom activists living in Papua New Guinea. The
West Papuans have been living PNG since they left their homeland during
their struggle for political freedom over the last 30 years – and have
called PNG home. Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speaker: Spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby, Joneri Alimin
Listen: Windows Media NANOL: The Indonesian Embassy in Papua New Guinea is organising a
”Voluntary Repatriation” program to help West Papuan separatists who are
willing to return home. Embassy spokesperson, Joneri Alimin says no one is being forced to return. He says the Indonesian authorities will guarantee the safety of those who
volunteer to return. ALIMIN: It is a voluntary repatriation program for West Papuans who want
to go back to their homeland voluntarily and if they want to go back, we
asking the Indonesian Government if they will facilitate them. NANOL: Mr Alimin, is their security guaranteed when they go back. The
Indonesian and the Kopasus security officers will not torture them and
intimidate them? ALIMIN: For sure, 100 percent.. the Indonesian Government would guarantee
them that they will be safe when they return to their homeland. And you
know until now, there is no report of like harassment from the West
Papuans who already repatriated back to Papua Province with guarantee. NANOL: How can that be guaranteed? Are they going to sign some form of
documents to say that they will not be tortured, intimidated. How can you
guarantee that? ALIMIN: Yes, you know of course if they want to join this program, they
have to fill some document. They process the statement they want to go
back. The government in Indonesia also have a think about the program and
also already prepared everything regarding the security you mean. NANOL: A group of West Papuans living in the capital Port Moresby claim
the voluntary repatriation program is not in their interest. West Papua pro-independence activist Samuel Ingamar says they will only
return when their dream for political freedom is realised. He says they will not volunteer to return as life will be hard for them
once they return. INGAMAR: I don’t think it is good for West Papuan, because the tension in
West Papua, it is not okay for West Papuans to return home. NANOL: Do you think their safety will be guaranteed? INGAMAR: It is not safe, because we all are West Papuans. We come for one
motive for West Papua to be self-independent. When you go back to West
Papua, you are fulfilling the dreams of the Indonesians. Indonesia does
not need West Papuans. They only need our resource our land and what’s the
use of us going back there. We all are freedom fighters that seek for
independent for West Papua, and are going back to West Papua is not a
solution for West Papuans as freedom fighters. NANOL: You and some of these West Papuans who are living up there in
Moresby, are some of your members also involved or given the names for
voluntary repatriation or what is the situation? INGAMAR: For us here, a total of 169. We did not put our names there for
repatriation. We are against that program. We only put our leg to West
Papua when we get self-independence only, but volunteer back to Indonesia,
no. NANOL: Indonesian officials are visiting provinces in Papua New Guinea
where West Papuan political activists and families are living to inform
them of the ”Voluntary Repatriation” program. Spokesperson, Joneri Alimin told Pacific Beat, an estimated seven hundred
West Papuans have indicated they wish to return since last year. He says they hope to repatriate nearly 400 West Papuans including women
and children by next month.
