Free Papua founder ends exile, calls for peace with Jakarta

Nicholas Jouwe, the cofounder of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), has called for a peaceful settlement to the last major armed separatist rebellion in Indonesia’s province of West Papua. The 85-year-old met Indonesian Welfare Minister Aburizal Bakrie in Jakarta on Friday, ending 40 years of life in exile.

OPM co-founder Nicholas Jouwe in Jakarta
(Photo: Reuters)

“The world is getting smaller,” Jouwe said. “Papua and Indonesia should forge closer ties with each other. It is better that we find a solution to work together rather than be at war.”

Indonesian officials had announced on Thursday that Jouwe would renounce the call for independence, but he refused to confirm whether he would do so and referred to the eastern territory as a nation.