Indonesia is currently undertaking a program to repatriate several thousand West Papuan freedom activists living in Papua New Guinea. The West Papuans have been living PNG since they left their homeland during their struggle for political freedom over the last 30 years – and have called PNG home.

Presenter: Firmin Nanol

Speaker: Spokesman for the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby, Joneri Alimin

Nanol: The Indonesian Embassy in Papua New Guinea is organising a "Voluntary Repatriation" program to help West Papuan separatists who are willing to return home.

Embassy spokesperson, Joneri Alimin says no one is being forced to return. He says the Indonesian authorities will guarantee the safety of those who volunteer to return.

Alimin: It is a voluntary repatriation program for West Papuans who want to go back to their homeland voluntarily and if they want to go back, we asking the Indonesian Government if they will facilitate them.

Nanol: Mr Alimin, is their security guaranteed when they go back. The Indonesian and the Kopasus security officers will not torture them and intimidate them?

Alimin: For sure, 100 percent.. the Indonesian Government would guarantee them that they will be safe when they return to their homeland. And you know until now, there is no report of like harassment from the West Papuans who already repatriated back to Papua Province with guarantee.

Nanol: How can that be guaranteed? Are they going to sign some form of documents to say that they will not be tortured, intimidated. How can you guarantee that?

Alimin: Yes, you know of course if they want to join this program, they have to fill some document. They process the statement they want to go back. The government in Indonesia also have a think about the program and also already prepared everything regarding the security you mean.

Nanol: A group of West Papuans living in the capital Port Moresby claim the voluntary repatriation program is not in their interest.

West Papua pro-independence activist Samuel Ingamar says they will only return when their dream for political freedom is realised. He says they will not volunteer to return as life will be hard for them once they return.

Ingamar: I don't think it is good for West Papuan, because the tension in West Papua, it is not okay for West Papuans to return home.

Nanol: Do you think their safety will be guaranteed?

Ingamar: It is not safe, because we all are West Papuans. We come for one motive for West Papua to be self-independent. When you go back to West Papua, you are fulfilling the dreams of the Indonesians. Indonesia does not need West Papuans. They only need our resource our land and what's the use of us going back there. We all are freedom fighters that seek for independent for West Papua, and are going back to West Papua is not a solution for West Papuans as freedom fighters.

Nanol: You and some of these West Papuans who are living up there in Moresby, are some of your members also involved or given the names for voluntary repatriation or what is the situation?

Ingamar: For us here, a total of 169. We did not put our names there for repatriation. We are against that program. We only put our leg to West Papua when we get self-independence only, but volunteer back to Indonesia, no.

Nanol: Indonesian officials are visiting provinces in Papua New Guinea where West Papuan political activists and families are living to inform them of the "Voluntary Repatriation" program.

Spokesperson, Joneri Alimin told Pacific Beat, an estimated seven hundred West Papuans have indicated they wish to return since last year. He says they hope to repatriate nearly 400 West Papuans including women and children by next month.