A stretch of border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in Wutung Skouw, Jayapura, Papua, has been reopened after it was closed for three weeks
stretch of border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) in Wutung Skouw, Jayapura, Papua, has been reopened after it was closed for three weeks.
'It was reopened on May 20 after the Indonesian Consulate in Vanimo lobbied the PNG government in Port Moresby,' Indonesian Consul General in Vanimo, Jahar Gultom, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
PNG authorities prevented traditional border crossers from Indonesia from entering the country since April 23, saying that the RI-PNG traditional border crossing (TBC) cards expired on March 18.
Indonesian border guards in Skouw also imposed a reciprocal policy to prevent PNG residents from entering the country.
'We faced difficulties at that time because many residents of Vanimo requested permits to enter Indonesia,' said Jahar.
Jahar said out-of-date RI-PNG traditional border crossing cards would be discussed in a bilateral meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, scheduled to take place in Jakarta on June 17. (asw/ebf)
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