CONFIDENTIAL
37TH EXCOM GENEVA: 6-16 OCTOBER 1986
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
DSR 11C
BACKGROUND
Nature of Refugees
1. There are at present an estimated 10,000 refugees
from the Indonesian Province of Irian Jaya living on the
Papua New Guinea (PNG) side of its border with Indonesia.
So far this year some 600 persons have returned to
Indonesia on a voluntary basis, a considerable increase
on the 32 people who returned to Indonesia in 1985.
Others have crossed, however, and the total numbers
probably remain at the same level. The status of Irian
Jaya refugees is difficult to establish. Most would
claim to be fleeing from Indonesian repression though few
have actually come into contact
Indonesian troops or
Government officials.
Awth
Most have fled because they heard
stories of Indonesian atrocities
-
-
OPM)
often spread by the
Free Papuan Movement (Organisasi Papua Merdeka
a small Melanesian orientated anti-Indonesian
organisation which is active on the border. Other
reasons given for the departure are that traditional
lands are being given to settlers from Java and the
Irian Jayans have therefore sought refuge with their kin
groups on the PNG side of the border.
Needs of Refugees
2. The UNHCR's small representative office (2 staff
members) in Port Moresby attempts to assess the needs of
the refugees, but with the refugee camps situated at such
a distance from the capital, with only limited time and
resources available to visit the camps, it is a difficult
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CONFIDENTIAL
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