Papuan separatist leader becomes RI citizen

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 05/16/2010 8:16 PM | National

A leader of the Free Papua movement, Nicolas Jouwe, has become an Indonesian citizen after living in exile in the Netherlands for 50 years.

He received his certificate of citizenship from Minister of Law and Human Rights Patrialis Akbar in Papua’s provincial capital Jayapura on Saturday.

Govt may free political prisoners in Papua

The Jakarta Post, Jayapura | Sun, 05/16/2010 8:45 PM | Headlines

Welcome back!: In this file photo, Free Papua Organization co-founder Nicholas Jouwe (second left) is welcome by Papua GovernorBarnabas Suebu (right) upon his arrival at Sentani Airport in Jayapura. Nicholas Jouwe spent more than 40 years in exile in the Netherlands. — ANTARA/Oka Barta

Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar said Sunday he planned to release a number of Papuan political activists jailed for campaigning for separation from Indonesia.

The minister said during his visit to Papua that he would discuss the plan with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Widodo AS. The policy, he explained, aimed at stabilizing the restive province.