FOREIGNERS CAN EASILY INFILTRATE INTO PAPUA

Jayapura, Indonesia, March 21 (ANTARA) - Foreigners can easily infiltrate into Indonesian territory, especially through Papua bordering Papua New Guinea, an immigration official says.
Hendiartono, csaid hief of the immigration office in Jayapura said on Friday the border in Papua was the most unique in Indonesia.

"The gate to Indonesia can be accessed through land, sea and air transporation," he said.

Papua as the easternmost province of Indonesia directly shares a border with Papua New Guinea on the east, while the island borders on the Pacific Ocean in the north and on the Indian Ocean in the south.

"The territory of Papua is so huge, thus posing special challenges geographically, while it is an undeniable fact that the human resource is still limited," he said.

In addition, limited facility and infrastructure have come up as a certain constraint in implementing the task optimally especially in the context of security along the border.

Therefore, to make the mission run optimally, the immigration office in Jayapura coordinated with some government agencies and local people. For example the police, the army, the navy and the airforce, the airport and hotels which often received foreign guests.

However, Hendiartono did not rule out the possible infiltration of foreigners into Papua through PNG for various purposes.

"Some admitted to come to Papua for vacation, but they stayed for a long period. Hence, special attention should be given to this kind of case in the sense what their main purpose to visit this country," he said.

In addition to geographical challenges, immigration problems in Papua could be categorized as sensitive if seen from political aspect.

"It is also not impossible that some foreigners who enter Papua as social and religious workers conceal other purposes to create disunity and unsafe conditions in Papua," he said. ***