Official welcomes decision

WEST Sepik administrator Conrad Tilau has welcomed the decision to close down the Papua New Guinea (PNG)-Indonesia border indefinitely to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19).
“I am very happy the National Pandemic Response Controller and Police Commissioner David Manning ordered the closure,” he said.
Tilau said he believed the surge in infections was due to illegal entries by PNG citizens from Jayapura.
“The Indonesian authorities are not keen to discourage Papua New Guineans from entering and leaving Jayapura in the midst of the Covid-19 outbreak in Jayapura.
“It is about time the Covid-19 protocols similar to international air travellers be implemented at the land border.
“There are weaknesses and the border management and Indonesians need to address illegal crossings by PNG citizens. We have to stop people through tough actions in this difficult time of the Covid-19 pandemic.”