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strong>Feb. 2, 2016

Ten former members of a Papuan separatist group, the National Liberation Army/Free Papua Movement (TPN/OPM), have asked the government to grant them amnesty, a senior intelligence official has confirmed.

The former Papuan rebels were received by National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Sutiyoso last week. '€œThis is a good step [forward], as a domino effect following [the surrender of Acehnese rebel leader] Din Minimi,'€ Sutiyoso said on Monday as quoted by tempo.co.

Sutiyoso said the former rebels had also requested living assistance, adding that such issues had already
been discussed with their regional government and would most likely be granted because their requests were simple enough, such as for public housing.

Your comments:

Many Papuan separatists have given up the fight, coming back to the republic and pledging to be good Indonesian citizens from now on. But the news is difficult to find in English-language media, perhaps because the development risks affecting foreign interests in the region. It'€™s not fair, but hey, Indonesia runs its own race!

Jalasveva

It'€™s so telling that you don'€™t recognize poor governance and flawed and cruel policies as having anything to do with their decision-making, but can only imagine these slaves are rebelling because someone else is whispering in their ear. It'€™s a very colonial attitude you have, sir!

Devanagari

Have you read anything about Papua New Guinea or any Melanesian countries? Compared them with Indonesia! Compare their tribal wars with those in West Papua! What have you done to make those Melanesian countries better than West Papua?

Timor Leste, for example, I am sure you have a lot to say about Indonesia'€™s past in Timor, but hey have you read anything about Timor Leste lately? Do you have any insight about Timor Leste'€™s future when the oil runs out? Have you planned anything to help to develop Timor Leste? Broadcasting your moral outrage is cheap and easy, coming up with clear and practical solutions isn'€™t.

JV

Timor Leste is the poorest country in Asia (says a lot about the glory of Indonesia'€™s efforts there). Nonetheless, it would be as offensive to suggest that the Timorese would be better off under Indonesia as it would be to suggest to an Indonesian that they would be better off under the much richer Dutch. Personal pride and historical bitterness care little for economics.

Personally, I think both Timor Leste and West Papua'€™s interests would be clearly better served being a part of Indonesia, I just take offense at Indonesians refusing to acknowledge that they have been involved in some terrible activities in these places.

You pushed Timor Leste away by your brutal occupation, and you are pushing Papua away by a similarly shameful legacy (not that West Papua will ever escape). Pretending they are only unhappy because they are being stirred up by Westerners is pathetic and shows what an awful overlord Indonesia is.

The irony is that your refusal to acknowledge that you are doing anything wrong or to take their complaints seriously is the biggest barrier to their successful integration into Indonesia.

DG

West Papuans have learned that it'€™s never a good idea to challenge an emerging predominantly Muslim nation that will soon challenge the US for supremacy. Indonesia will soon tell the US, to its face, that from now on, the world is going to be run along Islamic lines.

The True Patriot

Thank you so much, my brothers, for coming back to the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

M. Pinem

Indeed. Indonesia is just Indonesia, justice is only for the rich and the rat-skilled mafia. Nothing you can do if they take your family.

Rozasahputra