Border crossers return home

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Irianese who crossed the borders in 1984 in the hope of finding a better life in Papua New Guinea returned to their former homes in Merauke last week.

Herman Monim, vice governor and official in charge of Irian Jaya border affairs, said yesterday the return of some 30 border- crossers, who had lived in Camp East Awin in Kiunga (PNG) for 12 years, had been officially reported in the recent border liaison meeting in Manokwari.

The 30 repatriates were flown from Kiunga to Merauke where they continued their trip overland to their respective villages in the Mindiptana subdistrict, Antara reported.

Many border-crossers had taken shelter in Camp East Awin which was formerly financed by the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR).

Earlier this year, UNHCR closed its office in Port Moresby, the capital of PNG, and stopped financing the camp which accommodates at least 3,000 Irian Jaya border-crossers. (swe)