1) Indonesian
Troops Fire On PNG Soldiers Along Border
2)
Another shooting at PNG-Indonesia border
4) Papua New Guinea Governor slams asylum seeker policy
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1) Indonesian Troops Fire On PNG Soldiers Along BorderTension increases, PNG summons Indonesian Ambassador to protest
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, May 5, 2014) – Indonesian troops have opened fire on a PNG Defence Force border patrol, increasing further tension at the Papua New Guinea-Indonesia border.
The flare-up at the border compelled the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration to summon the Indonesian Ambassador Andrias Sitepu to give another protest note, just over a month after the diplomat was issued the first one over similar concerns.
Mr Pato said the note expressed concerns at the developments on the border and condemned the "shooting incident" on the morning of April 19 when Indonesian troops opened fire on a PNGDF patrol.
"While there being no reports of casualties, the Indonesian government should ensure that such incidences do not reoccur in the future," he said.
Despite the protest by Port Moresby, the situation is deteriorating, compelling the Government to ask Indonesia for dialogue to look for a way forward in line with various border treaties the two neighbours have signed over the years.
It is understood the current conflict between elements of the OPM (Operasi Papua Merdeka) and the Indonesian army over the last month and frequent border incursions will be the main focus of a border liaison meeting which will be convened in Indonesia later this week.
The PNGDF top brass at Murray Barracks have remained tight-lipped due to the sensitivity of the issue, though it is understood soldiers deployed to police the border are under strict instructions not to return fire if they engaged or caught in a crossfire between the OPM and members of the Indonesian army.
However, a PNG Government official speaking on condition of anonymity said the April 19 incident could have escalated if a PNGDF soldier was injured when they came under fire.
"It could have been worse if any of our soldiers were injured during the shootout on the morning of April 19, it (the situation) is very sensitive at the moment," he said. The PNG ambassador to Indonesia, Commodore Peter Ilau (retired), will lead the PNG delegation to the border liaison meeting.
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http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/243388/another-shooting-at-png-indonesia-border
2) Another shooting at PNG-Indonesia border
Updated at 9:16 am today
The Papua New Guinea government has called in the Indonesian ambassador after another shooting at the troubled border between the countries.
The Post Courier newspaper reports Indonesian troops opened fire on a PNG Defence Force border patrol on the weekend.
Rimbink Pato says while there were no reports of casualties, the Indonesian government must ensure that such an incident doesn't happen again.
The incident follows a similar shooting on April the 19th.
It's understood the current conflict between elements of the OPM, or Free Papua Movement, and the Indonesian army over the last month and frequent border incursions will be the focus of a border liaison meeting, which will be convened in Indonesia later this week.
The newspaper says PNG defence force soldiers are under strict instructions not to return fire if they engaged or caught in a crossfire between the OPM and members of the Indonesian army.
The PNG ambassador to Indonesia, retired Commodore Peter Ilau, will lead the PNG delegation to the border liaison meeting.
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http://www.thenational.com.pg/?q=node/68088
3) PNG, Indonesia officials to hold border talks
Source:
The National, Monday May 5th, 2014
incidents.
Acting Department of Foreign Affairs and Immigration secretary William Dihm formally passed on the government’s second diplomatic note on the matter to the Indonesian ambassador to PNG Andrias Sitepu last month.
Foreign Affairs Minister Rimbink Pato said the government “welcomed the convening of an immediate border liaison meeting this week in Jayapura”.
“This will be an important opportunity for the officials of PNG and Indonesia to take stock of recent developments along the common border including alleged incursions into PNG territory,” Pato
said.
He said the note condemned the incident on April 19 where Indonesian troops opened fire at a PNG border patrol that morning.
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4) Papua New Guinea Governor slams asylum seeker policy
Updated
The Governor of Papua New Guinea's capital Port Moresby has taken out full-page advertisements in local newspapers criticising the Manus Island detention centre.
The open letter from Governor Powes Parkop to PNG's Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato expresses "grave concern" at the treatment of asylum seekers on Manus Island.
It says asylum seekers have not committed a crime and should not be held in prison-like conditions.
"This is an Australian practice which we should guard ourselves against," wrote Mr Parkop.
"It is … repugnant to our traditional and contemporary culture and to our Christian values to keep such people in near prison-like environment."
"Such environment and conditions can make normal and decent people incur mental problems, including insanity."
The letter says Papua New Guinea is "blindly" following Australian policy, which Mr Parkop says goes against the principles of the UN Convention on Refugees.
He proposes instead that asylum seekers with professional qualifications be given work permits while they wait for their refugee status to be assessed.
"I understand our people are opposed to settlement in PNG but I believe this attitude is influenced by the perception that some of these asylum seekers might be extremist or Muslim fanatics or troublemakers," Mr Parkop says.
"While I don't wish to ignore such possibility … many of these people might be fleeing that type of environment too."
"Let us not demonise these people forever."
The open letter says many nations have been enriched by immigration, including migration motivated by economic reason. He cites the Irish fleeing famine and migrating to the United States of America as an example, as well as Chinese, Indian and Filipino migrants worldwide.
"I am under no illusions that this is a delicate and sensitive matter but I believe we can and should adopt a more human and morally superior approach that adopting Australian policy and culture or be blinded by our people's fears and prejudice," wrote Powes Parkop.
The letter was also sent to PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, and the Australian High Commissioner Deborah Stokes and was published as a full-page advertisement in two newspapers.
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