Indonesian Police Fire At Refugees

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31974, 29 April 1969, Page 15

Indonesian Police Fire At Refugees

GN’.Z. Press Association—Copyright*

PORT MORESBY, April 28. Indonesian policemen have fired at West Irianese refugees crossing into New Guinea, according to the Assistant Administrator for Services in Port Moresby (Mr L. W. Johnston).

The shots were fired by a police party “of substantial size," he said, but none of the 80 refugees—men, women and children —who were going to the little Australian border patrol post of Wutung, was hit. Wutung, on the West Sepik coast, is only about 20 miles from Djayapura, the West Irianese capital where demonstrations against Indonesia have been reported recently.l Mr Johnson said that after' the refugees had crossed the border, a small Indonesian! party of eight to 10 left the main police group and followed into Australian territory. They retired when confronted by an Administration officer. The refugees are now at a camp near Vanimo, the West Sepik district headquarters, and it is expected that those

who can show- they have genuine humanitarian reasons for being allowed to stay in Papua-New Guinea will be granted permissive residence. The remainder will have to return to West Irian. The border incident is considered one of the most serious since the Indonesian takeover of West Irian. Extra police and district Administration staff have been sent Ito the area. An Administration spokesman said that if Australia did protest to Indonesia, it would be done through the Department of External Affirs.

A West Irianese refugee leader in Port Moresby said today that more border crossings could be expected. As the act of free choice in West Irian approach, the Indonesian authorities were likely to impose restrictions on the people.