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Two Indonesian hostages held in PNG are not spies, minister says
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan
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Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.(kompas.com/Sabrina Asril) (kompas.com/Sabrina Asril)
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. (kompas.com/Sabrina Asril)
Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has denied that the two Indonesians being held in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are spies.
'It is not true,' said Luhut when he was asked to clarify the rumors that the two Indonesians were spies.
A group in PNG is holding two loggers -- Sudirman (28) and Badar (20) -- after capturing them in Skouwtiau hamlet in the Kerom regency. Another victim, Kuba, was shot during the incident but was able to escape. He is currently being treated at the Bhayangkara Hospital in Jayapura.
Luhut said the Indonesian government was still coordinating with the PNG government to free the Indonesians. 'From the Indonesian government's side, we are ready to carry out any steps to free the Indonesians,' he added.
The Free Papua Organization (OPM) is allegedly responsible for the kidnappings.
Previously, National Police chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti rejected the offer of trading the two Indonesians with two drugs detainees.
Luhut said that the two Indonesians were in good condition. (bbn)
