Indonesians Taken Hostage, PNG Add Troops In Rescue Attempt

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Papua New Guinea government to increase the number of troops in an attempt to free two Indonesian nationals were held hostage Free Papua Organization, Indonesian officials said Thursday, September 17.

"Papua New Guinea are working hard to help release of hostages. The office of Prime Minister stated there are additional forces for the release attempt,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi at the Palace Complex, Thursday.

Retno asserts Indonesia will continue to coordinate and cooperate with the government of Papua New Guinea so that the two Indonesian citizens could soon be freed. Indonesia, Retno said, can not enter and be directly involved because the location is in Papua New Guinea.

“We cannot send our forces into the territory of Papua New Guinea," she said.

Regarding the condition of two Indonesians, Retno assured that they are still alive. The government, said Retno, continued to communicate intensively with the Papua New Guinea team on the field.

Two citizens of Indonesia, Sudirman and Badar, who worked as lumberjacks in Skofro, Keerom district, Papua, which borders with Papua New Guinea, were taken hostage by the Free Papua Movement (OPM). They were taken hostage after the group attacked and shot residents.

Both were then taken to Skouwtiau, Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. Because the location of the hostage is no longer in Indonesia, the Indonesian Military Area Command contacted the Consulate General of Indonesia in Vanimo to ask help from the Regent of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea and the army in order to liberate the two citizens who were taken hostage.

ANANDA TERESIA