Border villages lack legal status

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Nine villages on the border of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea still lack legal status, although both countries have agreed to make further inquiries.

Suryanto Sriwardjojo, an officer in charge of border affairs for Irian Jaya, said eight of the villages were located in Warasmal while the other village was in Marantikin, in the Jayawijaya regency.

There are 3,000 people in the eight villages in Kiwirok subdistrict and 95 people, from 25 families, in the Oksibil subdistrict.

"The nine areas are located in Indonesian territory but their residents are from the PNG," Suryanto was quoted by Antara as saying.

The nine villages were found by a team from PT Ingold Mining, a foreign mining company, conducting a mining survey. After landing the company helicopter on a river bank, the team met Indonesian speaking villagers who claimed they were legal PNG citizens.

The status of the nine villages was discussed at a meeting between the two sides at Marauw Hotel, Biak Numfor, on July 21 to July 24.

They agreed to reexamine the status of the villages and the border area.

The survey of the area will be conducted after the 52nd Indonesian Independence Anniversary on Aug. 17, 1997.