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Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Two Papuan indigenes -- Franzalbert Joku and Nicholas Simion who were formerly Papua New Guinean and Swedish citizens repectively -- have officially resumed their status as Indonesian nationals, it was reported here Sunday.

Franzalbert Joku and Nicholas Simion regained the status of Indonesian citizenship after their proposals on the matter were approved by the Indonesian government through the decree of the Law and Human Rights Minister on November 29, 2007.

The function highlighting the return of the two Papuans to the Unitary State of Indonesia was held in Sentani, Jayapura district, Papua province on Saturday (Feb 23).

On the occasion, Franzalbert Joku and Nicholas Simion received the documents on the decree of the Law and Human Rights Minister from Alwi Hamu, an expert staff member of Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Franzalbert Joku and Nicholas Simion Messet have showed good examples to their Papuan brothers and sisters who are still abroad and expected to follow suit, Alwi said.

"I agree with the Papuan sons` saying -- better a shower of stones at home than a shower of gold abroad (there`s no place like home)," Alwi said.

He said the wish of the sons from Indonesia`s easternmost province to resume Indonesian citizenship after they became foreign citizens for tens of years was hailed by the Indonesdian government and people.

When they met Vice President Jusuf Kalla to express their intention to return to Indonesia, the vice president directly asked his expert staff member to handle the matter.

Alwi said ten minutes before the function, the vice president asked him to send congratulatory message to Franzalbert Joku and Nicholas Simion Messet.

Meanwhile, Franzalbert Joku said the ministerial decree was the Indonesian government`s right measure in an effort to cope with Papuan issues and deal with the Papuan development within the Unitary State of Indonesia.

"Today (Saturday), I and my brother Nicholas Simion Messet conclude a long trip both in terms of distance and time as well as political perspective," he said.

"We close an historical story of our life which was full of good and bad experiences. Now we are resolved to begin a new trip despite a lot of challenges we will face in the future," he said.

Franzalbert Joku said he had been abroad and become a PNG citizen for 40 years and Messet had been in Sweden and become Swedish citizen for 38 years.

"After observing the real condition in Indonesia and the international political climate, we decided to return home forever. We believe Indonesia will be better, more democratic, free, prosperous and peacful in the future," he said.

As new Indonesian citizens, they are resolved to be loyal to the government and the country in general and to the Papuan people in particular.

The process of reforms and democracy has made changes but there are also many things to fight for in an effort to create true justice, peace and prosperity besides making the Indonesian people afraid of God and strengthening the country`s dignity.

The fuction was attended among others by diplomats from the Indonesian Embassy in PNG including Frans Pampo, representatives of the PNG government and some officials of the Papua provincial administration.

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