PNG border crackdown detains 14 suspected of OPM links

(RNZI) The head of Papua New Guinea’s join security forces operation in Sandaun province around the border with Indonesia says 14 detainees are suspected of being members of the militant separatist group, OPM Free West Papua.

Operation Sunset Merona has been underway for three weeks with more than 100 people arrested and detained for alleged illegal movement across the border from Indonesia.

Open letter to Andy Ayamiseba

Dear Andy, (If I may?)

Several days ago you wrote this comment:

“There are three sides of a story…..so, tell the Indonesian Government to open the gate in Papua and West Papua to foreign journalists so the truth could be identified, not mine or yours.”

About the gate to Papua, it is always open as you may see in the many reports on Papua directly from Papua. Hundreds foreign journalists and NGO activists with tourists visa have visited Papua. Jay Griffiths from UK said that it is not difficult to go there (Papua): buy a ticket, say you’re a tourist, and get your notebook out. Very simple, right?

Indonesia praises PNG for smothering Papua issue

Posted at 03:27 on 28 August, 2008 UTC by RNZI
Indonesia’s ambassador to Papua New Guinea has praised PNG’s Government for blocking the West Papua issue from being raised in recent meetings of the Melanesian Spearhead Group and Pacific Islands Forum.

Bom Soerjanto made these remarks at a reception to celebrate Indonesia’s 63 years of independence.

In recent Melanesian Spearhead Group meetings, Vanuatu pushed for West Papuans to be granted observer status in the MSG.

These attempts were blocked by the PNG Government which also ensured the issue didn’t make the agenda for this month’s Forum summit in Niue.

Mr Soerjanto says relations between his country and PNG have been buoyed by bilateral arrangements which mean each country respects the other’s territorial integrity including the agreement on border arrangements.

However, the PNG newspaper, The National, reports that Indonesian military aircraft have been invading PNG’s airspace in a shift from terrestrial to aerial incursions.

This is despite Jakarta recently apologising for incursions by its troops who had been harassing Papua New Guineans in and around the border villages.