Assurance by Indonesia

Press, 12 September 1984, Page 6

Assurance by Indonesia

NZPA-AP . Jakarta Indonesia has reassured Papua New Guinea that Indonesians from Irian Jaya Province who fled into Papua New. Guinea earlier this year will be given safe conduct on their ; return to the remote province.

The reassurance was made during several meetings to discuss border problems between the two countries, said the Foreign Minister, Mr Mochtar Kusumaatmadja, on his return from Rumania yesterday. The Minister made the statement in reaction to a reported warning that Papua New Guinea would not begin the repatriation of the Irian Jaya refugees until Indonesia had guaranteed their safe conduct. “Indonesia has already given the assurance. But if Papua New Guinea insists on another one, we would not mind conveying it again,” Mr Mochtar said. Some 9000 refugees from Irian Jaya have crossed the border since February after fighting between Indonesian troops and Irian Jaya rebels, the Free Papua Movement (0.P.M.), which seeks independence for the jungle region. Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Mr Rabbie Namaliu, recently expressed “deep and growing concern about the slow pro-

gress” in reaching agreement on returning the refugees.

Mr Namaliu’s warning appeared to contradict a recent statement by the Port Moresby Government that agreement had been reached with Jakarta on sending the refugees back with guarantees for their safety.

The situation on the border has deteriorated since the starvation-related deaths of more than 100 Irian Jayan refugees.