2 Merauke Fishing Boats Missing On The Papua New Guinea Border Still Wanted

Head of the Papua Province Border Management and Foreign Cooperation Agency Suzana Wanggai (right). (ANTARA/HO-Humas Papua Provincial Government)

JAYAPURA - Two fishing boats from Merauke that entered the border waters with Papua New Guinea (PGN) are still being searched.

Head of the Papua Province Border Management and Foreign Cooperation Agency (BPKLN), Suzana Wanggai, said representatives of the Indonesian government, namely the Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby and the Indonesian Consulate in Vanimo, had coordinated with the PNG authorities regarding the existence of the ship from Merauke.

"The most important thing is that until now we are still waiting for the whereabouts of the two missing ships," said Suzana as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 24.

He invited the community to pray together so that there would be a bright spot for the incident.

"Previously, the two vessels were reported missing while carrying out fishing activities," he added.

He explained the position of the ship was in the same location as the Kelvin 02 ship which was shot by PNG security patrol soldiers in the border waters between PNG and Australia.

"It is suspected that the two ships have been arrested by the PNG patrol. For this reason, the Government of the Republic of Indonesia continues to seek to coordinate with the relevant authorities in PNG to find out the whereabouts of the crew members," he said.

Meanwhile, Papua Province Regional Secretary Muhammad Ridwan Ruikutun and Merauke Deputy Regent Riduwan handed over compensation to Nursam Siati, the wife of the late Sugeng, one of the victims of the shooting of a boat by PNG patrol officers.