Province wants security tighten

National

WEST Sepik administrator Conrad Tilau wants security tightened along the PNG-Indonesian border to allow people to trade without fear.
“Business at the popular Indonesian shopping centre (Batas) is not bustling as normal since the shooting allegedly by West Papua Revolutionary Army (TRWP) on Sept 27.”
Tilau said last week informal business activities had scaled down at Vanimo because vendors were still scared to go to the border to buy goods in bulk from the Indonesian traders.
“Trading at the border is helping people especially in the rural areas of East and West Sepik to earn an income for selling their alluvial gold, vanilla and cocoa beans to the Indonesians buyers at the border,” he said.
“So the trading at the border is very important to both the ordinary Papua New Guinea and Indonesian citizens,” he said.
Earlier on Jayapura city Deputy Mayor Rustan Saru called on people from both countries to move freely to do business at the border or in Vanimo (West Sepik) and Jayapura.
“Citizen of Indonesia and PNG who wants to cross the border please come,” Saru said.
“Full security is guaranteed. There are no problems now and the atmosphere is absolutely conducive to do business.
“I urge the public not to believe by unclear issues or hoaxes.”
Saru told Indonesian media the border gate was opened on Oct 4.