Jet Near West Irian Border

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31987, 14 May 1969, Page 17

Jet Near West Irian Border

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) VANIMO (New Guinea),May 13. A camouflaged R.A A.F. Canberra jet has made sweeps along the border between New Guinea and West Irian.

On Sunday a Canberra, with' no distinguishing marks visible, made two runs along the border.

The long-range grey-green jet swept over Vanimo, the West Sepik district headquarters, 20 miles from the border, flew along the coast to approximately the border then turned out to sea. It then made a second run to the border, this time flying inland along it, until obscured by mountains.

Vanimo residents said it was not unusual for Canberras, on flights from Australia, to fly in the area. But they could not recall seeing an unmarked one before.

In Port Moresby today the resident R.A.A.F. officer, Wing-Commander D. Carter, said two Canberras from Amberley, Queensland, had been on training flights in Papua-New Guinea.

He said it was common practice for the jets to use camouflage which obscured their markings while training.

A strong Indonesian patrol is believed to be operating in the border area.

The patrol chased 79 West Irianese across the border at coastal Wutung on April 26.

Administration officers believe it is now slowly moving inland through the rugged terrain. Its target is presumably refugee camps set up along the border. Some administration officers think an Indonesian force

may also be stationed along the Tami River, six miles their side of the border, to cut off refugees wishing to cross into Australian territory.

The officers think this may have prevented more refugees than the 131 from crossing the border.

More have been expected, particularly since reports of a recent demonstration in Djayapura, the West Irianese capital, have begun filtering out.

The reports, heard in Vanumo and Wewak, the East Sepik headquarters, say Indonesian authorities, the United Nations representatives on the spot, and West Papuan leaders agreed that an antiIndonesian demonstration could have been held in Djayapura—probably on May 1.

The West Irianese went ahead, preparing placards and on the day about 2000 assembled for the demonstration.

According to the reports, the Indonesian troops got their orders mixed and, to make matters worse, the military commander, General Sarwo Edhie, was late. As a result, Indonesian tanks appeared in the streets and began firing over the heads of the panicking demonstrators.

When General Edhie finally arrived, he was so incensed by the action of his troops that he publicly struck two officers, the reports say.