3,000 stateless in Irian Jaya

3,000 stateless in Irian Jaya

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The Indonesian and Papua New Guinea
governments are trying to determine the nationality of some 3,000
people who live in remote villages in Irian Jaya close to the
common border of the two countries, Antara reported.

The fate of the people, scattered in eight villages in the
Wara region, should be determined this year, secretary of border
affairs in Irian Jaya, F.X. Suryanto, said.

As of now, the villagers are not recorded either as Indonesian
or Papua New Guinea nationals, Suryanto said.

The proximity of their villages to the ill-defined border
between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea makes it difficult to
ascertain their nationality. (09)