REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Under the leadership of President Joko Widodo, Indonesia will continue to make persuasive efforts to deal with the Free Papua Movement, the chief security minister said here on Wednesday.

"The government prioritizes persuasion in the framework of development and improvement of people's welfare, in connection with the Free Papua Movement," Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno stated during a dialog titled "Voice for Papua" at Hotel Borobudur.

According to the minister, Indonesian officials in the province continue to make diplomatic efforts to deal with the group that seeks independence for Papua.

"We have stationed our officials there, including personnel of the State Intelligence Agency," he added.

He further noted that President Joko Widodo had always urged militias in jungles to come forward and unite with the government.

"The president has always appealed to them to jointly develop Papua, but we cannot force them. However, some have already returned to the fold," he remarked.

Moreover, the government has always been open to Papuans wishing to hold discussions to convey their opinions, Purdijatno pointed out.

To resolve the issue of separatism in Papua, the minister emphasized that President Joko Widodo's administration will commit itself to developing the region using welfare approaches, while paying attention to maintaining a balance with the local culture, as well.

The welfare approaches that can be implemented are the development of a national rice-producing region in Merauke, as well as the development of roads and a cement plant in Papua.

The discussion was also attended by a former transportation minister, Freddy Numberi, who hails from Papua, and a former chief of the military command that oversees Papua, General (retired) Johny Lumintang.

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