Where is PNG government?

Image credit; Greenpeace

After 37 years of independence, Papua New Guineans living along the P-N-G, Indonesia and Australian borders, are questioning if their government exists at all.

Schools and health facilities closed long ago forcing people to turn to Indonesia and Australia, for these vital services.

Their lives are also under threat, without any government forces on the ground, to ensure their security.

Weam is the last P-N-G Government station before the border and sadly, is manned by a lone policeman Trophemus Baworo.

Sergeant Baworo says, his life has always been under threat and want's Government to intervene quickly.

" A lot of illegal border crossers are coming in and out. Only one person cannot effectively police this area.

"They are moving through, in and out through many means. At the moment because of the recent incident, the Indonesian soldiers threatened me.

"The young ones plus me were threatened. People are living in fear. We are not safe,so we need the government to look into this problem immediately."

Sergeant Baworo asked Chief of Operations, Simon Kauba, who was with the visiting Government delegation, for a new firearm, to replace his old one.

He also called for additional man power and vehicles to the area.

"For the side of police, I want to ask if I could have a more high powered firearm than this one, and I need more manpower. I need road transport and river transport just to help me go to and from to check the border areas.

"These are the problems I'm having now. My house is condemned,' Sergeant Baworo said.