A former Papua New Guinea defence force commander says the country is wide open for possible terrorist attacks from across the Indonesian border on major mining and energy projects.
Retired Major-General, Jerry Singirok, says the Australian-backed downsizing of the defence force has left PNG unable to properly protect the 750 kilometre long border.
He says the area sees illegal trading, money laundering, gun smuggling and illegal migration.
Major-General Singirok says the government and top military brass cannot be complacent when Indonesia is home to Jemaah Islamiah whose terrorists could easily cross into PNG to attack vulnerable targets.
These include the Ok Tedi copper mine in Western Province and the Hides Gas project in the Southern Highlands.
