The verification of citizenship was recommended by the Indonesia-PNG Border Liaison Meeting, held in Vanimo, PNG, on Oct 24-26, Assistant I for the Papua Provincial Government's Regional Secretary, Suzanna Wanggai, told ANTARA here Saturday.
To this end, Consul General of PNG in Jayapura Geoffrey L. Wiri, on Friday (Oct 27), led the joint verification process during which the border crossers would be asked to decide whether to hold Indonesian citizenship or to maintain their PNG citizenship status, she said.
Required verification items have also been prepared to enable the PNG settlers to decide, said Wanggai, who currently heads the Papua Provincial Government's Border and International Cooperation Agency.
The PNG settlers have lived in Yabanda Village, which is near to the two countries' land border, for many years, and many of their children have even gone to schools inside the Indonesian territory, she said.
According to information she received, the border crossers from PNG remain willing to live in Yabanda Village by considering their children's education, she added.
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Translator: Evarukdijati, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Sri Haryati
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