RI to have more border officers

RI to have more border officers

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The Jayapura immigration office plans to
station more officers at several key border points with Papua New
Guinea (PNG) in an attempt to reduce illegal border crossings.

Immigration spokesman Surya Pranata identified the places
recently as Argapura Pantai, Hamadi Pantai and Dok IX, all
located in Jayapura regency.

The crossing points, he said, were often used to illegally
enter PNG by chartered motorboats.

Another immigration office will also be built in Skouw
village, about 75 kilometers from Jayapura, to enable the
government to step up its monitoring of increased border
crossings.

Indonesia and PNG have an agreement that allows local border
crossers to use special identity cards.

"Many PNG nationals use the red card to enter Irian Jaya to
shop here because commodities such as staple foods, furniture and
electronic goods are cheaper in Indonesia," Surya told Antara.