Two Indonesians Held Hostage in PNG Have Been Released, Minister Says

Two Indonesians Held Hostage in PNG Have Been Released, Minister Says

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi said that two Indonesian citizens held hostage by an armed civilian group in Papua New Guinea have been released and they are in a healthy condition currently.

“I have talked with them. They are in a good condition,” Minister Retno said at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, on Friday (18/9).

In the meantime, Presidential Communication Team Ari Dwipayanain his press release added that the two Indonesian citizens were released on Thursday (17/9) evening local time and they are currently in the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Ari also said that a few hours before the release of the two citizens, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo talked with Prime Minister of PNG on the phone to release the two Indonesians.

“I closely monitor the situation as reported by the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” President Joko Widodo stated.

The two citizens in question are Sudirman and Badar and both have been held hostage since Saturday (12/9). They work in a logging company in PNG. (Humas/WID) (JS/EP/YM-Naster/Sy))