ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Papua New Guinea (PNG) ratified a defense agreement with Indonesia, after a horizontal conflict occurred in the country that triggered a national emergency.
“Security is the foundation of trade, investment and business,” said Papua New Guinea’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Justin Tkachenko, quoted from AFP, Friday, March 1 2024.
“In PNG, we hope to overcome our security challenges along our 800 kilometer border corridor,” he said again.
Furthermore, Tkachenko said that defense cooperation could help a number of PNG’s security capabilities and capacities. The security agreement was first signed in 2010. Indonesia has ratified the agreement.
However, Papua New Guinea did not immediately take similar steps. Papua New Guinea’s parliament only ratified it on February 14 and went into effect a week later.
Based on the document, they agreed to cooperate in the field of military intelligence, provide logistical support and coordinate security operations.
Papua New Guinea has had difficult relations with Indonesia after West Papua became part of Indonesian territory in 1969.
PNG’s ratification came after the country was hit by horizontal riots that triggered a national emergency. The riots started after a group of soldiers, police and guards went on strike following a pay cut for no reason. Residents who were dissatisfied with the government took part in the action. The riots then spread to Lae City.
A number of people stormed shops through broken glass windows and looted them. To deal with the riots, the Papua New Guinea government declared an emergency status for 14 days. They also deployed soldiers on the streets to guard. (ATN)
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