Semarang, Cairo – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is considering embracing separatist groups in Aceh and Papua (Irian Jaya) in order to collectively develop the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia.

"To strengthen the integration of the Indonesian state, the government will be active in persuading the people in conflict areas, particularly Aceh and Papua, and we won't rule out the possibility of embracing these separatist groups," said the president at a meeting with Indonesian citizens in Cairo on Friday (12 November) afternoon.

The meeting between the president and Indonesian citizens in Egypt was led by Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt Bachtiar Aly and also attended by MPR (People's Consultative Assembly) Speaker Hidayat Nurwahid; DPR (House of Representatives) Speaker Agung Laksono; Minister of Religion Maftuh Basyuni; NU (Nahdlatul Ulama) General Chairperson Hasyim Muzadi; Muhammadiyah Deputy Chairperson Amin Abdullah; and, staff of the Indonesian embassy in Cairo.

The president considers that a purely military approach in eradicating separatist groups in the two regions has not resolved the problems. "These separatist conflicts have been going on for a long time since Soekarno's era. To resolve these, the government over the next five years will prioritize a policy of persuasion by improving the welfare of the communities through the implementation of special autonomy," he said.

According to the president, special autonomy is the best solution to the resolution of separatist conflicts. However he emphasised that the government would tolerate not even the slightest efforts to separate with the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. The president stressed: "'Yes' to improving the community's welfare through special autonomy, and 'No' to separatists."

[From BBC World Monitoring.]