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)