JAYAPURA: Free Papua Movement (OPM) co-founder Nicholas Jouwe has lauded Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu for improving the welfare of the Papuan people.

"What I struggled for a long time to do from outside the
country, to raise the people's welfare, has been done by the
governor from inside," the former separatist leader told
reporters after meeting with Suebu.

Suebu welcomed Jouwe's statement, saying the people's welfare
could be achieved through the current special autonomy law in
place in the province.

"The substance of freedom is the people's welfare. The
administration is trying to spread the welfare by creating a
good and clean government in Papua."

Papua Customary Council head Fadel Al Hamid welcomed Jouwe's
return, saying that although the latter was now a Dutch citizen,
"he is still Papuan".

Fadel refused to comment on Jouwe's statement supporting the
implementation of special autonomy status for the province.