JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is expected to meet the leader of the separatist group Free Papua Movement (OPM) Goliat Tabuni during his visit to Puncak Jaya, Papua, arranged in early May 2015.
The report is confirmed by the Commander of the Cendrawasih regional command (Kodam XVII) Maj. Gen. Fransen G. Siahaan to Kompas.com on Wednesday (Mar. 25).
According to Fransen, Jokowi is arranged to also meet a number of local and traditional leaders in Papua.
Fransen said his side has been finishing all of preparations for Jokowi’s visit in Papua, including the construction of five helipads.
Fransen, moreover, revealed that about 23 militants of Goliat Tabuni’s OPM group already surrender themselves and declared their willingness to return to become civilians. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)