Jayapura, 11/2 (Jubi) – Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry is seeking a clarification on an incident in which a sped boat carrying 10 Indonesians was allegedly burned by people believed to Papua New Guinea soldiers last week, an official said.
“We all agree to await the outcome as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta is seeking clarification,” said the head of the Border and International Cooperation Department of Papua Province, Susanna Wanggai said Tuesday.
The search is continuing for five people who are still missing following the of the coast of Merauke in PNG waters on February 6.
“So far none of the five missing has been found,” she said.
She said the search operation was difficult because of heavy seas off the South Coast of Papua.
“Well it is very challenging yet we pray to God that there will be a miracle and they are safe,”she said.
Meanwhile, a deputy speaker of the Papuan Legislative Council ( DPR Papua), Yunus Wonda, called the attack on Indonesians inhumane.
“We strongly condemn this action since this could harm the relationship between Papua, Indonesia and PNG, ” he said.
He said he hoped that the incident would not affect good relations between the countries and cultures.
He said DPR Papua demanded decisive action from the PNG government on soldiers if they were found to have been involved in the attack.
“Whether the fishermen had immigration papers or not, the soldiers’ action was still not acceptable and humane,“ he said. (Jubi / Alex/Tina)
