5 May 2014

Another shooting at PNG-Indonesia border

9:16 am on 5 May 2014

The Papua New Guinea government has called in the Indonesian ambassador after another shooting at the troubled border between the countries.

The Post Courier newspaper reports Indonesian troops opened fire on a PNG Defence Force border patrol on the weekend.

Rimbink Pato says while there were no reports of casualties, the Indonesian government must ensure that such an incident doesn't happen again.

The incident follows a similar shooting on April the 19th.

It's understood the current conflict between elements of the OPM, or Free Papua Movement, and the Indonesian army over the last month and frequent border incursions will be the focus of a border liaison meeting, which will be convened in Indonesia later this week.

The newspaper says PNG defence force soldiers are under strict instructions not to return fire if they engaged or caught in a crossfire between the OPM and members of the Indonesian army.

The PNG ambassador to Indonesia, retired Commodore Peter Ilau, will lead the PNG delegation to the border liaison meeting.