Perbatasan Wutung Dibuka Akhir Bulan Jika Kasus COVID-19 Turun

Pemerintah Provinsi Papua dan Papua Nugini (PNG) menyepakati membuka kembali pintu perbatasan di Skouw Wutung, Distrik Muartami, Kota Jayapura, pada akhir bulan ini apabila kasus penularan COVID-19 mulai terkendali.

Hal itu disampaikan Kepala Badan Perbatasan dan Kerja Sama Luar Negeri (BPKLN) Provinsi Papua, Suzana Wanggai di Jayapura, Rabu (7/7/2021).

Kedua negara sebenarnya telah sepakat membuka kembali pintu perbatasan, hanya khusus untuk untuk perdagangan barang pada 21 Juni 2021 lalu. Namun akibat angka kasus COVID-19 di kedua negara yang mulai naik, sehingga disepakati dilakukan penundaan.

“Sebelumnya sudah ada pertemuan antara Indonesia dan PNG terkait pembukaan pintu perbatasan, karena masyarakat dari kedua negara di wilayah perbatasan ini saling membutuhkan. Lalu disepakati dibuka pada Selasa dan Kamis. Tetapi pertemuan selanjutnya disepakati ditunda”.

“Kini ada rencananya 21 Juli mendatang kita lakukan pembukaan, tetapi yang jelas akan ditentukan dari situasi COVID-19 di kedua negara. Artinya apabila penularannya menurun dan bisa dikendalikan. Sebab kita perlu menjaga keamanan negara kita dari pandemi COVID-19,” terang Suzana.

Sementara, jelang pembukaan pintu perbatasan RI-PNG tersebut, pihaknya bersama negara tetangga terus berupaya menyiapkan beragam instrumen yang dibutuhkan. Seperti kelengkapan surat-surat dan lainnya serta peralatan untuk mendukung protokol kesehatan.

Diketahui, perbatasan RI-PNG di Skouw telah ditutup akibat merebaknya pandemi COVID-19 sejak tahun lalu.

The Provincial Governments of Papua and Papua New Guinea (PNG) agreed to reopen the border gate in Skouw Wutung, Muartami District, Jayapura City, at the end of this month when cases of COVID-19 transmission begin to be controlled.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Border and Foreign Cooperation Agency (BPKLN) of Papua Province, Suzana Wanggai in Jayapura, Wednesday (7/7/2021).

The both countries have actually agreed to reopen the border, only specifically for the trade of goods on June 21, 2021. However, due to the number of COVID-19 cases in both countries that began to rise, so it was agreed to delay.

"Previously there had been a meeting between Indonesia and PNG regarding the opening of the border gate, because people from both countries in this border region need each other. It was then agreed to open on Tuesday and Thursday. But the next meeting agreed to be postponed".

"Now there is a plan for 21 July we will do the opening, but that will obviously be determined from the Covid-19 situation in both countries. That is, if the transmission decreases and can be controlled. Because we need to keep our country safe from the COVID-19 pandemic," explained Suzana.

Meanwhile, ahead of the opening of the RI-PNG border gate, the instruments needed have been prepared, such as the completeness of letters and other equipment to support health protocols.

It is known that the RI-PNG border in Skouw has been closed due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic since last year.