Border tensions in the Indonesia/Papua New Guinea relationship

Abstract

The relationship between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea has been significantly affected by problems associated with the border between them. This has not been a dispute about the boundary itself. There is a line on the map which the two countries have agreed to accept Rather, the border problem which has arisen between the two countries concerns an independence movement called the ‘Organisasi Papua Merdeka’ (Free Papua Movement - OPM) which since 1963 has been active against Indonesia and has repeatedly crossed the border to seek refuge in neighbouring Papua New Guinea; incursions in Papua New Guinea by the Indonesian military in pursuit of the OPM; and thousands of Irian Jayan refugees who have crossed the border to seek sanctuary in Papua New Guinea. Since Papua New Guinea’s independence in 1975 the border problem has intensified, especially in 1984 when an uprising in Jayapura resulted in an influx of 12,(XX) refugees into Papua New Guinea territory. This heightened security concerns in the two countries. For Jakarta, the refugees could become bases for the OPM to threaten Indonesia’s security; for Papua New Guinea on the other hand, there were concerns about possible Indonesian border incursions in an attempt to destroy the OPM.