Gov’t to Carefully Evacuate Indonesian Citizens Aboard Diamond Princess Cruise Ship

Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto, accompanied by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy, meets the press, at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (24/2). (Photo by: BPMI)

The Indonesian Government has announced it continues to carefully pursue the evacuation process of Indonesian citizens aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in the port of Yokohama in Japan.

“At the moment, we are also continuing the negotiation with the Japanese government on the measures, the techniques, and the best way to get them out,” Minister of Health Terawan Agus Putranto told the press at the Presidential Palace, Jakarta, Monday (24/2).

The Government, the Minister stated, is also seeking to keep 264 million people of Indonesia free from the Covid-19 virus outbreak in addition to paying attention to Indonesian Citizens in Japan.

According to Terawan, during the evacuation process, the Government persists in going on with it in a careful manner and refraining from a hasty decision.

“We are being careful. Our country is very careful and we follow the rule set by the WHO. We will do it in an orderly and strict manner,” he said.

“So that we will maintain our green zone. We should not underestimate the circumstances there. We know the procedures and the right way to do the evacuation without starting a new (virus) epicenter,” Terawan said.

For the record, the Diamond Princess was placed under a mandatory quarantine process after a number of passengers and crew members tested positive for the Covid-19, including nine Indonesian citizens.

“The nine Indonesian citizens are treated by the Japanese Government,” the Minister stated.

On the remaining 74 Indonesian citizens aboard the cruise ship, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Thursday (20/2) stated that the Government will continue to ensure that all Indonesian citizens were treated according to the health protocol issued by the WHO. (BPMI)

Translated by: Fairuzzamani Inayatillah
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas