Harlyne Joku – West Papuans numbering 600 have agreed to be repatriated to their home province in Indonesia, the independent group supporting special autonomous region of Papua (IGSSARPRI) said yesterday.

Secretary general Sawi Sitapai said IGSSARPRI was organising their voluntary repatriation which would take place in December and January.

Mr Sitapai said the West Papuans had agreed to return and build a new Papua under the Special Autonomous Law 21/2001 granted by the Indonesian government.

"IGSSARPRI is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) based in the country committed to support and promote the special autonomy in the region of Papua (formerly Irian Jaya) for the development and advancement of Papua and its people," he said.

About 100 of the 600 were from the group currently based at Nine Mile settlement. Those still camped outside the UNHCR office in Town were not part of the group, Mr Sitapai said.

He also announced that IGSSARPRI will be sending food rations to the families at Eight Mile who were also waiting to be repatriated.

Mr Sitapai said about 16 West Papuan families at Nine Mile were waiting for the Government and the Governor Powes Parkop to find alternative resettlement site for them. Majority of them would be repatriated, he said.

Food rations for the Nine Mile settlers will be distributed today.