Jayapura, Papua (Antara Bali)- Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Pandjaitan, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, and National Intelligence Agency Chief Setiyoso visited a patrol post in Skouw, the Indonesia (RI)-Papua New Guinea (PNG) border area.
During the visit here on Tuesday, they were accompanied by Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, Deputy Governor Klemen Tinal, Papua Police Chief Ins. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw, and Regional Military Commander XVII/Cenderawasih Major General of TNI Hinsa Siburian.
Minister Pandjaitan was scheduled to lay the first cornerstone for the construction of a border post and obtain firsthand information on the situation in Skouw.
The Skouw patrol post is located some 500 meters from a neutral zone between RI and PNG, Battalion Commander Lt Col Inf. Nandang stated.
Nandang explained that his battalion comprised 450 personnel who supervised 16 border markers scattered between the districts of Jayapura and Keerom.
From October 2015 until March 2016, a total of 665,380 PNG citizens crossed the Wutung border area to enter Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province.
These citizens mostly went shopping at the traditional border markets, which are open on every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. (WDY)
