28 Mar 2006

PNG fears illegal arms trade across Indonesian border

3:40 pm on 28 March 2006

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force fears there will be an increase in the trade of firearms across the border with Indonesia.

The chief of staff of the PNGDF, Captain Tom Ur, raised this concern amid reports of an increase in illegal border movements.

He says these movements expose PNG to transnational crime and disease such as bird flu.

But Captain Ur says the PNGDF's exercise pukpuk later this year should see the reconstruction of the border post in Weam District in Western Province.

The joint exercise of the Australian Defence Force and the PNGDF engineering battalion would also see the construction of a security check point similar to that of Vanimo, at Wutung.