Repatriation

According to East Sepik Provincial Police Commander Superientenat Christopher Tamari the Chinese Businessman namely Tuan Chen who owns the King's Club near the Old Airstrip near Nuiguo was arrested and charged with having in his possession of an unlicensed firearm.

Tamari said on December 11, 2021, he was arrested and charged under Section 27 (1) (a) of the Firearms Act, Chapter 310. He further added that on December 16, 2022, Chen appeared at the Wewak District court and was convicted by the court.

The Japanese Association Recovery and Repatriation team members arrived in Kimbe on Wednesday 18th January and attended the Culture Centre to proceed in checking the remains of 15 soldiers’ that were found back in 2019 by the locals and research team.

Interpreter with the Japanese Embassy Rudy Sohoben explains that the team would be in the province till Monday 23^rd January doing research on the remains found and making confirmation on whether the remains were Japanese or Papua New Guinean.

They are part of 35, 550 prisoners released as part of the COVID-19 response by Indonesian authorities, who feared the virus transmission would spread and released those guilty of minor offences.

PNG Consul-General to Jayapura, Col.  Geoffrey Wiri said in an interview with TVWan News, “During the global spread of COVID-19, in late March Indonesia announced its decision to release Indonesian prisoners in fear of inmates suffering COVID-19. 

Based on that move, the PNG prisoners in various prison camps in Papua Province started making enquiries.

While government funding is yet to be released, the Consul has gone ahead and prepared travel arrangements for the group to return to Vanimo on Wednesday 6th May.

Eighteen citizens are on standby to be repatriated back to PNG. They have been stranded in Jayapura since January 2020 when PNG border authorities wasted no time in securing this major entry point. 

Prime Minister James Marape says the government will be introducing a repatriation package to send home especially those who are squatting in settlements.

“Husat lain yu pilim laif i had lo siti, na yu nogat wok na stap lo hia, afta yumi kamaut lo COVID-19 taim ba mipla rejistarim neim blo yupla olgeta – right throughout our country.” (Those of you who are finding life difficult in the city and are jobless, after we come out from the COVID-19 situation, we will register all your names – right throughout our country.)

This comment was raised by two leaders; the Member for Tonsu Constituency, Ezekiel Masat, and the Director for Peace and Reconciliation, Dr Patrick Diou, during a bone exhumation meeting at the Novah Village 3km outside of Buka Township yesterday.  

Relatives from Kugumaru Village in Lule area, with the support of the Member for Tonsu, Masat, and his people of Novah Village, have started their search to find the missing bones of late Peter Kupai.

A convoy of vehicles painted in mud drove through Kiunga town yesterday carrying the bodies of the victims to the airport, where they were airlifted in helicopters back to their resting place.

Among those who were repatriated were three children who died in the crash.

A total of 11 people, including the dual Australian-French national pilot, lost their lives on the afternoon of April 13.