Wutung border closed to traditional crossers
14/8/08
The PNG-Indonesian border has been closed to traditional border crossers. Indonesian embassy’s defence attaché Col Pasenga Talilah said the Wutung border post extending to the south were now closed to traditional border crossers and the only people identifying themselves with passports would be allowed to travel back and forth. The tough stance was taken in response to increased illegal activities in the border area. Col Talilah said the PNG Defence Force and the Indonesian military had a hard time trying to monitor movements at the border where alleged smuggling of arms and gold bars were reported. He said that recently 159 OPM (West Papuan Independence Movement) members surrendered their arms to Indonesia near Puchanjaya, pledging to go back to their villages to take part in Indonesia’s development.
See: http://www.thenational.com.pg/081408/nation7.php
Tags: Indonesia, PNG, West Papua