Indonesia plans voluntary repatriation of West Papuans living in PNG
![A man wears a traditional Papuan head dress at an independence rally in Australia. The Indonesian Embassy in PNG is organising a Voluntary Repatriation program to help West Papuan freedom fighters willing to return home.[Reuters]](http://westpapua.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/r319469_1421148.jpg "r319469_1421148")
A man wears a traditional Papuan head dress at an independence rally in Australia. The Indonesian Embassy in PNG is organising a Voluntary Repatriation program to help West Papuan freedom fighters willing to return home.[Reuters
The Indonesian Embassy in PNG is organising a Voluntary Repatriation program to help West Papuan freedom fighters willing to return home.
Spokesperson, Joneri Alimin says no one is being forced to return.
He says the Indonesian authorities will guarantee the safety of those who volunteer to return.
“One hundred per cent, the Indonesian government would guarantee them that they will be safe when they return to their home land,” he said.
A group of West Papuans living in the capital Port Moresby claim the move is not in their interest.
Spokesperson Samuel Ingamar says they will only return when their dream for political freedom is realised.
“We only put our leg back to West Papua when we get self independence,” he said.
“But volunteer back to Indonesia? No.”
Indonesian officials say an estimated 700 West Papuans have indicated they wish to return by November this year.
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Categories: Refugees
