Indonesia and PNG discuss security

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Security cooperation will be high on the agenda of the Indonesian and Papua New Guinea armed forces officials' regular meeting scheduled for today, a local official says.

Irian Jaya deputy governor Herman Monim, who heads the Indonesia delegation to the annual Border Liaison Meeting, said that the meeting, which began yesterday and will conclude today, is taking place in Port Moresby.

Other topics will be the arrangement of Indonesian border crossers' repatriation and bilateral trade, Antara reported.

Countless numbers of Irian Jayans have, for various purposes, reportedly crossed to neighboring countries where many of them have familial relations.

It is known that several activists of the separatist Free Papua Movement (OPM), who seek independence for Irian Jaya, live in Papua New Guinea.

Indonesia dispatched 20 delegates from different agencies to the meeting. (pan)