pngcitizens

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.