Gov’t Mulls Several Options to Evacuate Citizens Aboard Diamond Princess Cruise Ship

By Office of Assistant to Deputy Cabinet Secretary for State Documents & Translation     Date 26 Februari 2020
Category: News
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Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture meets reporters after attending a Limited Meeting at Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (25/2). (Photo: Jay/PR)

The Indonesian Government has announced it continues to weigh various options to evacuate Indonesian citizens who worked as crew members on Diamond Princess cruise ship.

“(The Government) still considers several evacuation methods. We are still waiting President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s directive. The decision must be carefully taken as it may affect the safety of the whole country,” Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said after a limited Cabinet Meeting at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday (25/2).

According to the Minister, the Government is still negotiating the best option with the Japanese authorities.

The Government, Muhadjir added, has also been taking measures to prevent the country from becoming the new epicenter of the deadly virus.

“We certainly do not want Indonesia to be the next epicenter of the virus. That is why we need thorough consideration because it will affect 264 million people of Indonesia,” Muhadjir said.

The Minister added that the Diamond Princess cruise ship has now become the new epicenter of the outbreak as more passengers were infected by the deadly virus. (UN/EN)

Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas

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