Jayapura

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 it remains unclear who is detaining the pair, they are being held in the Skouw area, with Indonesian media reporting that the information has been relayed by PNG defence force personnel.

The Jakarta Post reports the Indonesian Consul in Vanimo, Elmar Lubi, as saying two men aged 28 and 30, who work in the logging sector, were captured on Wednesday while working in Skofro hamlet in Indonesia's Kerom regency.