Irianese ask to be repatriated<\/p>\n
MERAUKE, Irian Jaya: Most of the 3,000 Irianese border-
\ncrossers currently living at the East Awin Camp in Kiungga, Papua
\nNew Guinea, have asked to be repatriated, a local officer said.<\/p>\n
Their hope to return to Irian Jaya was expressed through a
\nform they filled in, the acting head of the sociopolitical
\naffairs office here, Leonardus Letsoin, said.<\/p>\n
The Papua New Guinea government recently circulated forms to
\ncollect data on how many border-crossers wanted to return to
\nIrian Jaya and how many chose to stay in Papua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
According to Leonardus, most of the border-crossers want to
\nreturn home because they own land in the villages they left.<\/p>\n
According to Antara, many of them fled after receiving threats
\nfrom security disturbance groups.<\/p>\n
The Papua New Guinean government plans to send back 143
\nIrianese border-crossers from the East Awin Camp at the end of
\nthe month.<\/p>\n
Data collected from Merauke district office show that in 1984,
\n11,162 residents of Mindiptana and Waroko subdistricts near here
\ncrossed over to Papua New Guinea during social disturbances.<\/p>\n
Up to January, over 6,000 have been repatriated. The rest are
\nbeing sheltered at East Awin Camp, Bosset Camp, Dome Camp and New
\nCame Camp.<\/p>\n
Leonardus said transportation was the greatest obstacle in
\nrepatriating the border-crossers as most of them refuse to leave
\ntheir livestock behind.<\/p>\n
The Papua New Guinean government so far has only allowed
\nrepatriation by air and prohibits the border-crossers from taking
\ntheir livestock with them. (mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/irianese-ask-to-be-repatriated-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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