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PNG bans Indonesian border crossers
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has banned traditional Indonesian border crossers from entering the country as their traditional border crossing cards (TBC) have expired
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P
apua New Guinea (PNG) has banned traditional Indonesian border crossers from entering the country as their traditional border crossing cards (TBC) have expired.
"Their TBCs expired on March 18, 2013, so immigration officers at the Skouw Wutung border post banned them from entering PNG. Consequently, Indonesian immigration officers at the border post have started doing the same thing as PNG authorities in return," Indonesian consul in Vanimo Jahar Gultom told reporters in Jayapura on Wednesday.
With the ban, only those with passports can cross the borders of both countries despite the fact that citizens of both countries reside along the border, such as those in Wutung village in PNG and Skouw village in Indonesia.
Jahar said the consulate had coordinated with the PNG border administration officer in Vanimo, Moses Poi, but according to Poi, the PNG government in Port Moresby requested for a new agreement between the Indonesian and PNG governments that had yet to be signed.
As a result, traditional border crossers who held TBCs from Indonesia were not allowed to enter PNG.
On the other hand, Poi requested for Indonesia to allow PNG citizens holding TBCs to enter Indonesia to farm and buy groceries.
The TBCs were valid from March 18, 2003 until March 18, 2013, based on the basic agreement between both governments on border arrangements signed on March 18, 2003.
