PNG Defence Minister plays down reports of OPM border troubles

Transcript

Papua New Guinea's Defence Minister says the government is working with Indonesia to investigate  and minimise tensions along the two countries' common border.

Fabian Pok says he is in ongoing discussions with Indonesia's Ambassador to PNG after a recent spate of skirmishes involving the Indonesian military and members of the OPM Free West Papua Movement at the border.

While villagers on both sides of the border have traditional rights to garden on either side, the border has been closed temporarily following the skirmishes.

Dr Pok told Johnny Blades that both countries try to minimise the confrontation.

FABIAN POK: The Indonesians have been good enough to restrain themselves, even though they've been fired at. Papua New Guineans have been the same. So we don't know where the firing is coming from, elements other than the two military forces. We're not too sure, so that's why the investigation will try and sort out this problem and help with the situation.

JOHNNY BLADES: Is the PNGDF able to recognise the OPM personnel, and what's their approach to that?

FP: Well our government's got the one... we recognise Irian Jaya as part of Indonesia, that's our policy.

JB: Yeah but what do you do when the OPM come across? Do your troops look to put them back there?

FP: We've not had this problem with OPM coming across. Because as I told you earlier, it's thick, thick forest so we don't know who is who. How can you tell an OPM member from a villager who is gardening on one side and living on the other side of the border. They're one and the same people, they all look alike. But PNG soldiers have not come across any so-called OPM members as yet.

JB: You're saying it's difficult for PNGDF to recognise OPM because essentially it's the same people as on the PNG side?

FP: They're one and the same people. How do you distinguish somebody from another?

JB: It must be difficult.

FP: They're all the same coloured people. So how do you distinguish a villager from an OPM? It's very difficult.

JB: The local MP in Vanimo (PNG side) Belden Namah has been very critical of you and your government about how this is handled - people are reportedly living in terror up there, ordinary Papua New Guineans they say, because the Indonesia military are coming across and intimidating them on a systematic basis. What are you doing about it?

FP: It's really difficult to distinguish which side of the border they're from. We're got a good relationship (with Indonesia), we talk to them, we issue a diplomatic note and many other so we are constantly working with them. But as I said, I'm working with the ambassador here to convey messages to the government of Indonesia on our relationship and how we will solve the border issue together.

JB: Practically speaking, what sort of things are you looking at that would possibly solve the problem?

FP: Well, we're going to put an investigation team together to find out where all these things are happening and why it's happening and then we can go the next step to look at ways to minimise it.

JB: Don't we know why it's happening, because the OPM have a problem with the military over there?

FP: Well that is not for me because I don't comment for OPM or the Indonesian military.