ID :
74063
Thu, 08/06/2009 - 21:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/74063
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RI-PNG BORDER CLOSURE REPORTS DENIED
Jayapura, Indonesia, Aug 6 (ANTARA) - The chief of the Papua Border Cooperation Agency, Berti Ferdinandes, has denied reports that the Indonesian-Papua New Guinea (PNG) border has been closed.
"It is not true that the RI-PNG border in the Wutung area in Keerom district has been closed," Ferdinandes said here Thursday.
He said the situation at the border remained normal with people there continuing to carry out their daily activities as usual.
"Who says the RI-PNG border is closed?. If you do not believe me, go to the border and see things there for yourself," Ferdinandes said.
Earlier, on Tuesday, National Defense Forces (TNI) Headquarters spokesman Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said in Jakarta the border between Indonesia and PNG had been temporarily closed following the recent shooting incidents in the PT Freeport area in Timika.
Tamboen at the time said the two countries (Indonesia and PNG) had agreed to close the border to anticipate possible undesired happening following the shooting incidents in the concession area of PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika, Papua.
"The closure is to anticipate the impact of the incidents, including the possibility of foreign interference in the incidents," Tamboen said.
He said the border had been closed since the implementation of the presidential election on July 8, 2009, also in anticipation of possible incidents during and after the poll.
The Freeport incidents started on July 8, 2009, when a company bus and security post were set on fire at Mile 71 early in the morning.
Three days later, Drew Nicholas Grant (38) was shot dead by unknown gunmen at Mile 53. Grant was an Australian national who was working for PT Freeport Indonesia.
Markus Rante Allo, a PT Freeport security officer, was shot dead at Mile 51 a day later. The latest incident occurred on July 13, 2009, when the remains of Second Brigadier Marson Fredy Pettipelohi, a Papua police officer, were found at Mile 64. Serious wounds were found on his neck.***
"It is not true that the RI-PNG border in the Wutung area in Keerom district has been closed," Ferdinandes said here Thursday.
He said the situation at the border remained normal with people there continuing to carry out their daily activities as usual.
"Who says the RI-PNG border is closed?. If you do not believe me, go to the border and see things there for yourself," Ferdinandes said.
Earlier, on Tuesday, National Defense Forces (TNI) Headquarters spokesman Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said in Jakarta the border between Indonesia and PNG had been temporarily closed following the recent shooting incidents in the PT Freeport area in Timika.
Tamboen at the time said the two countries (Indonesia and PNG) had agreed to close the border to anticipate possible undesired happening following the shooting incidents in the concession area of PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika, Papua.
"The closure is to anticipate the impact of the incidents, including the possibility of foreign interference in the incidents," Tamboen said.
He said the border had been closed since the implementation of the presidential election on July 8, 2009, also in anticipation of possible incidents during and after the poll.
The Freeport incidents started on July 8, 2009, when a company bus and security post were set on fire at Mile 71 early in the morning.
Three days later, Drew Nicholas Grant (38) was shot dead by unknown gunmen at Mile 53. Grant was an Australian national who was working for PT Freeport Indonesia.
Markus Rante Allo, a PT Freeport security officer, was shot dead at Mile 51 a day later. The latest incident occurred on July 13, 2009, when the remains of Second Brigadier Marson Fredy Pettipelohi, a Papua police officer, were found at Mile 64. Serious wounds were found on his neck.***
