ABC AUSTRALIA, 16/06/2004 23:00:33
Indonesia considers meeting with Papua separatists in Vanuatu
Pro-independence activists from Indonesia's Papua province have welcomed an
invitation by the Vanuatu government to meet with Indonesian officials in Vanuatu's
capital, Port Vila.
Papua, also known as West Papua, has been the scene of a long running insurgency
by the Free Papua Movement (OPM).
Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirajuda, has indicated his government is open
to the idea, but as yet there has been no formal response to Vanuatu's invitation.
Dr. John Ondawame, from the West Papua People's Representative Office in Port
Vila, says it could be an historic meeting.
"This is the first time in our history that the two parties agree to sit down together and
the government of Vanuatu would like to facilitate this historical event," he said.
16/06/2004 23:00:33 | ABC Radio Australia News
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