PNG Ambassador to Indonesia Peter Ilau gives an account of incident involving PNGDF and Indonesian citizens

PNG Navy: Picture source: The Australian Navy 

This is a brief account of the Karu incident in Western Province involving a PNGDF soldiers and Indonesian citizens.The incident happen near Karu approx 8km east of the border at 2.30pm on 6th February 2014.

A PNGDF patrol was traveling from Daru to Weam when it spotted the 23 footer fibreglass dinghy and gave a chase and caught up with the boat near Karu point approx 8 kilometers inside PNG territory.

This boat had 10 Indonesians who traveled from Merauke and were on their way to Daru. A quick search was conducted but the boat only had several containers of fuel. The passengers were told to move away from the boat and the PNGDF patrol then set fire to the boat and left for Weam. As the patrol was leaving, an argument started amongst the 10 Indonesians.

The next day, the PNGDF patrol was informed by Daru officials that five people were detained by Indonesia soldiers while other five people were reported missing. Amongst the missing were three Indonesian including a businessman and two PNG citizens. The patrol claim that the missing people had nothing to do with them as they were all left standing at the beach watching their boat go in flames.

PNG Action

Noting the sensitivity of the incident, PNGDF HQ this morning deployed a senior officer to Daru to investigate the matter. The Investigation Officer will visit the site where the incident took place and report his findings to PNGDF HQ.

A formal report on the incident by PNG government will be made known as soon as the PNGDF Commander briefs relevant authority.