Indonesian Military raids village in Papua New Guinea

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK

ABOUT 100 villagers in Western province are displaced and homeless after Indonesian soldiers raided their village and burnt houses, police in the province said yesterday. The raid was staged by a platoon-sized group of Indonesian soldiers, and police described it as an act of unprovoked aggression on PNG citizens living in Kwara village close to the PNG-Indonesian border last Tuesday.

South Fly police commander Insp Peter Philip said yesterday a platoon strength (about 25) of armed Indonesian soldiers crossed the border in search of an officer attached to the Weam district administration and burnt down 10 houses.

"The next day (July 9), a section strength (about 10) of armed Indonesian soldiers met three Medapor villagers in PNG territory and assaulted them with gun butts.

"The villagers, with traditional border crossing permits, were on their way to the Indonesian border station at Sota when they were assaulted," Mr Philip said.

He said the officer the Indonesians were after was based at the PNG border station of Weam.
He had allegedly gone across to Sota early this month, got drunk with Indonesian officers, and behaved unruly.

Indonesian border security officers locked him up at their police station. However, he was released from the station with the help of some Indonesian friends but without the Sota's Indonesian military commander's permission.

"When the commander discovered what had happened, he sent soldiers across the border searching for the officer, and destroyed houses in the village,"Mr Philip said.

There is only one policeman at the Weam station, but he has no communication with Daru or Port Moresby.

Mr Philip said that the Indonesian soldiers' action is uncalled for as the villagers were not involved with that officer.

"There was a similar situation early this year when Indonesians soldiers raided a village and killed a pig.
"During the border liaison meeting in Jayapura last May 26 -27, I had raised this issue about Indonesian soldiers' unruly behaviours along the border.

"Indonesian officials had assured me that no such incidents will happen again. But the recent incidents showed that the Indonesians still have a long way to go in controlling their soldiers," Mr Philip said.
Meanwhile, the National Executive Council has instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister to protest strongly to the Indonesian government over incursions into PNG by its troops.

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Puka Temu, during question time in Parliament, said Cabinet had been fully briefed on the matter and was very concerned.

"The Government has directed Foreign Affairs Minister and Secretary to send a diplomatic note on the continuous border incursions."

Dr Temu said Defence Force commanders from both PNG and Indonesia have met over the issue.
He said the issue will also be raised at the joint PNG-Indonesia border liaison meeting scheduled for either August or September.

He said the PNG Government had moved to upscale its activities along the border with the Prime Minister giving directions for Treasurer and Finance Minister Patrick Pruaitch to take charge of the border programme.

He said Mr Pruaitch had put together a border development package to be brought before Cabinet for endorsement and implementation, which include improving monitoring and surveillance along the border.