Wutung border closed to traditional crossers
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.
Meanwhile, reliable sources reported this week on a build-up of two battalions of Indonesia’s territorial forces along the Wutung border area down towards the south in Western province.
The sources questioned why there was a build-up if OPM activities had simmered over the years.
Col Talilah refuted reports of Indonesian military build-up at the PNG-Indonesian border.
He said Indonesia had only one battalion normally stationed at their border station at Arso, which monitored the 820km border.
Reliable sources reported this week a build up of two battalions of Indonesia’s territorial forces along the Wutung Border area down towards the South in the Western province.
They also reported that in the South particularly at Weam there have been cross border incursions 70-80 km into PNG territory by more than 30 heavily armed TNI and Police.
The sources questioned why there was a build up when OPM (Free Papua Movement) activities have simmered over the years.
But Col Talilah said to date no additional Indonesian troops have been added to the battalion. He also said that the battalion of 120 men is inadequate to cover the entire border.
Nation Stories