PNG may expel Indonesia’s envoy over mid-air drama
Mustaqim Adamrah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 01/06/2012 3:41 PM
Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O'Neil has threatened to expel the Indonesian Ambassador from Port Moresby, Andreas Sitepu, following an incident last November in Indonesian airspace.
Two Indonesian Military (TNI) aircraft almost collided with a jet carrying the PNG deputy prime minister and senior government officials who were returning from Malaysia, radioaustralianews.net.au reported on Friday.
PNG Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah said that the TNI aircraft was acting aggressively with the intention to intimidate.
"I am very angry. I demand an explanation. If I do not get an explanation within 48 hours, all diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea will be strained," Namah said as quoted by the news portal.
"I have already spoken to the ambassador, and if this means we have to get the ambassador to leave this country and withdraw our ambassador from Jakarta, we will do so."
The Indonesian Foreign Ministry and the Indonesian Defense Ministry say they will issue a statement later this afternoon.
