Verification Team Proposed For Missing Papuans

Jayapura, Papua, Feb 11 (Antara) - The Indonesian Consulate for Vanimo, Papua New Guinea (PNG), proposed to form a verification team on five Indonesian fishermen reported missing after PNG soldiers burned their vessel in the sea border between the two countries. Head of the consulate Jahar Gultom said here on Tuesday that a verification team could be formed by the two countries to find the truth about the report. "It is regrettable if it is true. We would send a strong protest to the PNG government," Gultom said. PNG soldiers were reported arresting 10 Indonesian fishermen from Merauke, in the sea border areas off the southern coast of Papua last week. They were released and told to swim to Indonesian navy post some five kilometer away after the PNG soldiers set their vessel and all belongings on fire. Five of the fishermen managed to swim to safety , but five other were missing. "But first we need to verify the report. What we have is our version. Their version would most likely be different," he said He said the two governments of the countries need to find a solution to the problem to prevent recurrence of such incident. "I think of the future , about the traditional relations, that economic and trade relations should not be affected , but such incident must not occur again," he said. "This is not the first, earlier many of our people were caught. We have our home work, PNG has its home work. Therefore, we need to sit together to find a solution," he added. On Monday lawmaker Tjahjo Kumolo urged the foreign ministry to demand explanation from Papua New Guinea about the alleged incident. Tjahjo, the secretary general of opposition party, PDI Perjuangan, said the foreign ministry, the Indonesian military and intelligence should be sensitive to the "inhuman treatment" of the fishermen committed by PNG soldiers. "Indonesia has to take firm retaliatory measure against such unfriendly actions," he said.