Indonesia waiting for official PNG decision to close border

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
INDONESIAN border officials are yet to be informed of the PNG Government’s decision to close down the border crossing at Wutung because of the coronavirus threat, an official says.
Vanimo-based Indonesian consul-general Abraham Abelauw said they were yet to receive a letter on the PNG Government decision on the closing of the PNG side of the border.
He said Indonesia had already installed hi-tech equipment at their border administration office in Skouw which could detect “suspicious virus” on people crossing the border.
“We are yet to talk to the West Sepik administration and the Vanimo-based national border agencies to monitor border crossings together.
Immigration and Border Security Minister Westly Nukundj and West Sepik Governor Tony Wouwou ordered the closing down of the border office at Wutung for an indefinite period.
Abelauw said Papua Province which is on the Indonesian side of the border had already taken steps to monitor the pandemic.
“We have hot line telephone numbers which people can use to call our health ministry to report any cases,” he said.
Wouwou said the PNG border office lacked monitoring and testing facilities for such situations.
“This is a wakeup call for the Government to upgrade monitoring and screening facilities.”