The Jakarta Post, June 07, 2006
SBY, students discuss Papua
JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should talk with Papuan separatist
leaders in the province to resolve the long-standing conflict there, a group of
Indonesian students studying in Australia says.
Velix V. Wanggai, who chairs the Association of Indonesian Students in Australia
(PPIA), said the President seemed lukewarm about the idea.
The PPIA claims to represent 30,000 Indonesian students in Australia.
"The President said he would visit Papua in a month. He plans to enter into dialogs
with public figures there but I don't know if he will meet OPM (Free Papua
Organization) leaders," Velix said after a meeting with Yudhoyono here Tuesday.
Velix said Yudhoyono told the students any talks with Papua parties would be in the
spirit of reconciliation.
Velix said speaking to a range of groups in Papua, including the OPM, would help the
government gain international support for its approach to peace. --JP
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