An elderly man casually sitting in a park immediately smiled broadly when he saw five young men from a distance approaching him. He looked enthusiastic. When the group got closer, without hesitation, the man immediately stretched out his right hand to greet them one by one. The young men then introduced themselves, as well as the man who mentioned that his name was Silasianay (61 years). The encounter between a group of young men and Silasianay took place in a large yard in Wariaber Village, Papua New Guinea. The location is behind the Sota Border Post (PLBN) in Sota District, Merauke Regency, South Papua.
Shortly after introducing themselves, Silasianay, wearing a black hat, invited the young men to sit on a wooden bench under a big tree. The young men immediately rushed to the bench by passing a sign that read “Welcome to Papua New Guinea”.
A group of young children followed these young men from a distance. A conversation ensued between the youths and Silasianay. The children listened while also chatting amongst themselves. From the conversation it became clear that Silasianay was not the average person. He is the chief of the Kanum Tribe of Papua New Guinea. The distribution of this tribe is not only in Wariaber Village, but also to the Merauke region. Because of the wide distribution, Silasianay and the Kanum Tribe in general have an emotional connection with Indonesians. It is not impossible that citizens from two different countries can turn out to be closely related when their ancestries are traced.
Closer to Indonesia
Apart from the emotional connection due to the wide distribution of these tribes, Silasianay said his tribe in Papua New Guinea tends to depend on Indonesia to meet basic daily needs. It’s a matter of distance. Basic necessities are closer and easier to obtain by residents of Wariaber Village from the Sota Market in Indonesia. Many of them routinely look for basic necessities such as oil and rice at the Sota Market, both for their own consumption and to trade again in Papua New Guinea.
“When buying rice in Papua New Guinea, the distance is far, it’s much closer to Sota,” Silasianay told Kompas.com, Monday (11/13/2023). When looking for basic necessities, they do not enter Indonesia empty-handed. Often, they will also bring venison or freshwater fish to be sold at the Market.
Transactions at Pasar Sota use rupiah as currency. “Yes, we sell to the market and also shop again in (Sota) for things such as salt and sugar using rupiah then return again (to Papua New Guinea),” said Silasianay.
In addition to buying basic commodities, many children from Wariaber Village attend schools in Sota District. Once again, it’s a matter of distance. In Sota there are schools from elementary to high school. Religious activities, efforts to get clean water, as well as access to health, are also commonly done by residents of the Kanum Tribe or Wariaber Village in Sota.
Helena Ohoiwirin, an immunization officer at the Sota Health Center, said that Papua New Guineans are used to getting access to health at the Sota Health Center. Like Sota residents in general, Wariaber Village residents also even get free access to health. “It’s humanitarian. Because over there (health access) is far away, so it’s free here (Sota),” Helena said.
Silasianay’s conversation with the youths in the background of PLBN Sota did not last long, about 15 minutes. The young men continued their journey and activities. However, will not be the last time Silanay gives warm greetings and welcomes people on the border between the two countries.
West Papua Now 