CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
movements of refugees because it is denied access to the
Irian Jaya side. The UNHCR office believe that copies of
their own reports go automatically from UNHCR HQ to the
UNHCR office in Irian Jaya.
Legal Position
15. The UNHCR in PNG are in a difficult position, given
that both PNG and Indonesian governments are involved.
At times there would seem to be difficulties in
communication with the PNG Government, caused more by
bureaucratic difficulties than lack of goodwill.
16. The UNHCR's access to the refugee camps is a
problem because of the distance of the sites from
Port Moresby, the difficulty of the terrain and the modes
of transport (sometimes up river by dinghy). It is
unlikely that the situation can be improved until all the
refugees are gathered in one camp. Even then the chosen
new site is in a remote and fairly inaccessible area.
Physical Security of Refugees
17. The PNG Government does its best, but has been
criticised at times for apparent mishandling of border
crossers (not refugees). The local government has
provided police patrols, but these have now been
withdrawn.
18. The safety of the refugees seems to be threatened
mainly by external forces ie the OPM
-
though the risk
is more of intimidation than of widespread violence. The
OPM appear to be active in discouraging potential
returnees to Irian Jaya. An attempt to move the camps
away from the border and from the OPM's area of influence
would probably improve the situation.
cr2ajk
CONFIDENTIAL
/18.