1) PNG government failed on West Papua
issue, says Namah
2) PNG and Indonesia agree to
investigate border clashes
3) Vanimo people live in fear of
Indonesian army, says PNG MP
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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/241659/png-government-failed-on-west-papua-issue,-says-namah
1) PNG government failed on West Papua issue, says Namah
Updated at 4:33 am today
Papua New Guinea's opposition leader says the government has failed to address ongoing problems on the border with Indonesia.
Belden Namah says people in his electorate, Vanimo Green, are subject to continued incursions by Indonesian military forces hunting West Papuan rebels.
He says Vanimo people living near the border are harassed by the Indonesians who block access to the Papua New Guineans' traditional hunting and fishing territory which agreements between the two countries are supposed to guarantee.
Mr Namah says PNG's O'Neill government is misguided in its claims that trade agreements with Indonesia can address the problems along the West Papua border.
"It's a totally different issue, it's an issue about identity, it's an issue about the land, the motherland. So you can't mix those issues, you've got to address them separately. If it's an issue about trade, it's a totally different issue, it's the trade between Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, but if it's an issue about West Papua, it's about self-determination."
PNG's opposition leader Belden Namah
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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/241660/png-and-indonesia-agree-to-investigate-border-clashes
2) PNG and Indonesia agree to investigate border clashes
Updated at 4:33 am today
Papua New Guinea and Indonesia have agreed to jointly investigate recent clashes at the border involving suspected separatist militants and Indonesian soldiers.
PNG's Defence Minister Fabian Pok says the investigations will be led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and involve other government departments.
He says PNG officials will work closely with Jakarta to try and resolve the issues.
Mr Pok says the PNG government has also flown in additional Defence Force troops to try and eliminate suspected OPM rebel camps on their side of the border.
He says they have been told to free the PNG side of any rebel activities and ensure the security of Papua New Guinea citizens living in the border areas.
The Minister has also confirmed that PNG solders attacked a suspected OPM camp and burnt down garden shelters used by PNG villagers
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3) Vanimo people live in fear of Indonesian army, says PNG MP
Updated at 11:29 am on 14 April 2014
A Papua New Guinea MP says people in his electorate, Vanimo Green, live in constant fear of cross-border incursions by Indonesia's military.
Belden Namah, who is also PNG's opposition leader, says the government has failed to provide adequate military and police capabilities to protect the border.
Ongoing Indonesian efforts to hunt down members of the OPM Free West Papua Movement recently spilled over into PNG again with another shootout between Indonesian troops and the rebels.
Mr Namah says Indonesian military have established their presence at various points in PNG including Vanimo.
"On some occasions, if not most of the occasions, they go and burn down houses. They threaten PNG citizens with guns whether for shielding OPMs or for whatever reason. So our people on the border, they live in fear all of the time. Papua New Guinea (government) should come out and make an open statement. Because, if we do not make a clear cut decision on the issue of West Papua, this problem is still going to exist."
Belden Nama
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