Jakarta – The National Defence Forces (TNI) Headquarters said security situation in the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea borders has increasingly become conducive after activities at the border checkpoint at Skouw village was resumed on May 5.

For the time being, the border checkpoint was opened from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., spokesman for the TNI Headquarters Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said here on Sunday.

"The measure is designed to ensure that the border security will gradually be restored to normal so that the residents living near the borders can resume their activities as usual," he said.

The border checkpoint at Skouw village, Muara Tami district, Papua province, was closed on April 9 after a bomb planted at the Muara Tami bridge was found.

Under normal conditions, Indonesian nationals can cross the borders to visit the neighboring country for not more than 24 hours by producing their identity cards at the TNI security post and later reporting themselves to the immigration checkpoint at Skouw village.

The border post located some 70 km east of the Papua provincial capital of Jayapura is guarded by a task force from the Wirabuana 725 infantry battalion.