17 PNG citizens nabbed in Papua<\/p>\n
Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua<\/p>\n
Jayapura Police arrested on Friday 17 Papua New Guinean (PNG)
\nnationals for illegally entering Indonesian territory.<\/p>\n
The foreign nationals were also carrying firearms without
\nproper documents, they added.<\/p>\n
The police are currently questioning the suspects to
\nunderstand their motive for entering the neighboring troubled
\nprovince of Papua.<\/p>\n
Jayapura Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Totok Kasmiarto said the
\n17 PNG citizens were apprehended while trying to enter Papua
\nthrough the border area of Skouw Mabo at around 3 p.m. local
\ntime.<\/p>\n
They were about 40 kilometers inside the border when the
\npolice nabbed them, he added.<\/p>\n
"We initially arrested 34 Papua New Guinean nationals, but
\ndecided later to release 17 women and children and send them back
\nto their home country," Totok said.<\/p>\n
He said the suspects could be charged with violating Emergency
\nLaw No. 12\/1954.<\/p>\n
He declined to name the suspects.<\/p>\n
"Under PNG's legal system, it is legal to possess and carry
\nfirearms, but gun owners must obtain a permit," Totok said.<\/p>\n
He said a preliminary investigation showed that the 17 Papua
\nNew Guineans were carrying weapons for hunting purposes. Indeed,
\nthe Skouw Mabo area is located near Vanimo land -- the hunting
\narea belonging to the ancestors of the Papua New Guinean people.<\/p>\n
"If the investigation concludes that they had other motives,
\nwe will take legal action under the Indonesian legal system," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government has long been suspicious that
\nneighboring PNG harbors Papuan separatists.<\/p>\n
Arguing that the Indonesia-PNG border has become a safe haven
\nfor the Free Papua Organization (OPM), the Indonesian Military
\n(TNI) is considering stationing military battalions along the
\nborder.<\/p>\n
OPM, one of the secessionist organizations in Papua, has been
\nwaging a low-level armed struggle against the government for
\nindependence since the 1960s.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/17-png-citizens-nabbed-in-papua-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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