21 Jul 2008

PNG to look at building border security capacity

1:55 pm on 21 July 2008

Papua New Guinea's government says it will work closely with Indonesia to address issues around their common border.

This follows recent reports that Indonesian soldiers have been making frequent incursions into PNG.

Jakarta has apologised for its troops crossing the border, saying the incursions are due to increased activity by Papuan separatists from Indonesia on the PNG side of the border.

PNG's deputy Prime Minister says cabinet is looking to develop border security with increased surveillance, more officials and competent management on the border posts.

Dr Puka Temu says PNG will draw on its strong bilateral relationship with Indonesia to work through border issues together.

"And the border issues, as you know, there's also a heightened level of illegal trading as well. So we're also going to seriously look at stopping that illegal border trading and more particularly improving policing it."

Dr Temu says defence commanders from both countries are investigating the incursions issue.