goodmorningpapua.com – The National Border Post or PLBN Skouw, Jayapura can be a tourism destination for athletes and groups competing in the National Sports Week or PON XX Papua. In addition to being able to see the Indonesian border with Papua New Guinea, visitors can witness an interesting welcoming presentation.
A Head of PLBN Skouw Yan Numberi said during the PON performance, the people from Saireri introduced one of their cultures which is usually held when welcoming guests of honor who are visiting the area for the first time, namely the plate stamping procession. “We were initially asked to help by a group of youths to introduce the plate stamping culture to the people who visit the Skouw PLBN,” he said, Sunday, October 3, 2021.
According to Numberi, the procession held at PLBN is the same as the procession for welcoming the guest of honor which took place in the Saireri traditional territory. Visitors who come will be served as much as possible by indigenous youths, including himself who is also Saireri’s son.
“With the plate stamping attraction, it is hoped that it will increase the attraction of the community and athletes of PON XX to visit PLBN Skouw,” said Numberi.
The Skouw PLBN, which is located on the RI-Papua New Guinea border, has become an official crossing for citizens of the two countries. The distance is about an hour and a half from Jayapura by using a four-wheeled vehicle across the Holtekam bridge or the Red bridge.
Before entering the Skouw PLBN area, visitors will be asked to report to the TNI post which is part of the border security task force and then are welcome to continue the journey to the PLBN which is about 300 meters away. If there is no prior notification, then visitors are forced to walk to the country’s borders considering that there are portals that are spread out on both sides.
However, if there is advance notification, the officer will open a portal so that the vehicle can continue its journey to the borders of the two countries which are currently locked due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Numberi said, visitors from Indonesia could cross the neutral zone and enter Papua New Guinea after obtaining permission from the country’s officials to simply take selfies or shop for special foods from neighboring countries. PNG residents open stalls in their territory by selling t-shirts, hats and fabrics with their country’s motifs as souvenirs while still using rupiah.
Unfortunately, Numberi said, since the outbreak of Covid-19, activities at the border have ceased, including the closing of the gates of the two countries. Even though it was closed, people, especially from outside Jayapura, still visited the Skouw PLBN and experienced an increase since the PON was held.