President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with co-founder of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) Nicholas Jouwe at the former's residence in Cikeas, West Java, on Thursday, state news agency Antara has reported.

"The meeting between President SBY and OPM founding father Nicolaas took place in a friendly, familial and dignified atmosphere,"  OPM senior campaigner Franzalbert Yoku said.

Yoku said Jouwe, 85, who has been living in exile abroad for the past 40 years, used the meeting to personally thank the President for allowing him to visit his Papuan homeland.

"Jouwe asked the President to solve current issues in Papua in the best and most dignified of ways, so as to avoid any violations of human rights. He also asked whether the political prisoners could be released," Yoku said. (amr)