VIVAnews – Seventy six people of West Papua who have been living in Manus, Papua New Guinea, will return back to Papua, following the voluntary repatriation program from the Indonesian government, as reported in The National on Monday, Oct. 26.
The repatriation is a result of the three-day working visit from the Indonesian Embassy and Department of Home Affairs to verify the repatriation.
Indonesian Embassy’s spokesperson Abdul Hakim stated that the 76 West Papuans living in Manus province have declared their participation in the voluntary repatriation program.
Hakim added that the verification process is to complete the travel documents and passports.
“According to the plan, they can be sent home next month,” he said.
Hakim explained that the voluntary repatriation program is an implementation of the cooperation made between the Indonesian government and Papua New Guinea’s government.
“Ninety five percent of West Papua residing in Manus came from Keron area in Papua, and it is the home for most of the 76 [repatriated] people,” he added.
Most of the West Papuans living in Papua New Guinea are activists or followers of the Free Papua Movement.
The voluntary repatriation program has been started by the West Papua authority since the area received a special autonomy from the Indonesian government in 2001.
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Translated by: Ariyantri E. Tarman
