REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The international community has extended support to Indonesia to help develop its eastern regions, including the provinces of Papua and West Papua, Spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs Ministry Arrmanatha Nasir said.

Speaking at the Foreign Affairs Ministry's office in Jakarta on Thursday, Nasir added that as a response, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo plans to grant amnesty to the remaining political inmates in Papua. This is also part of efforts to clear the province of stigmas of being known as a "dangerous zone" and "conflict area."

"They (the international community) recognize and support Indonesia as a single entity. They continue to support and encourage our efforts to develop the country's eastern regions, including Papua, through democratization, a welfare-oriented approach and fulfillment of rights," he explained.

Therefore, the move to grant amnesty to the political inmates in Papua, Nasir stated, is part of efforts to attract further support from the global community.

The spokesman further noted that the Foreign Affairs Ministry plays a significant role in gaining assistance from across the globe not only to help develop Papua but other regions, as well.

"In the context of Papua, the Foreign Affairs Ministry is responsible for the regulation concerning permitting foreign journalists entry into the province," he pointed out.

From January to June 2015, the ministry had received eight requests from foreign journalists to enter Papua, and according to Nasir, the government has issued permits for all of them.

On Monday, the House of Representatives questioned the government about the subject and its plan to grant amnesty to other political inmates in Papua.

In Indonesia, even though granting amnesty is the prerogative of the president, he should seek the parliament's opinion.

Granting amnesty to all political inmates is one of President Jokowi's primary policies for Papua. At present, there are 31 political prisoners behind bars in the province.

Earlier, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno had said that the government aimed to approach Papua through development and to clear the stigmas of being known as a "dangerous zone" and "conflict area."

In early May, President Jokowi had granted amnesty to five Papuan political inmates. They were Apotnalogolik Lokobal (20 years imprisonment), Numbungga Telenggen (life imprisonment), Kimanus Wenda (19 years imprisonment), Linus Hiluka (19 years imprisonment), and Jefrai Murib (life imprisonment).

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