‘All had proper papers, approval’

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
ONLY 31 Indonesians boarded Garuda Indonesia’s Flight GA-7610 in Jakarta on Aug 19 and all had proper papers and approval from Papua New Guinea Pandemic Response Controller David Manning, Indonesian Ambassador to PNG Andriana Supandy says.
“Flight GA-7610 had arrived in Jakarta from New Delhi enroute to Port Moresby,” he said.
“On board were 42 Indian High Commission (IHC) staff and PNG citizens who had been approved to travel.
“However, upon disembarking in Port Moresby, 114 passengers were noted to have been on the flight.”
However, National Pandemic Response deputy controller Dr Daoni Esorom confirmed last night that only 111 passengers had arrived.
The controversial flight had more passengers than Manning had approved, which included four passengers infected with the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
The flight fiasco resulted in Manning, who is also PNG’s police commissioner, immediately banning all Garuda flights into PNG air indefinitely.
Garuda is a state-owned entity.
CapaJet, the Hong Kong-based luxury charter flight service provider that arranged the flight for IHC, was also banned.
CapaJet had since denied that the PNG Government had placed a cap on passengers for Flight GA-7610. Manning also ordered a probe to ascertain how unauthorised passengers boarded Flight GA-7610.
He also requested the Government (Foreign Affairs Ministry) to deal with the IHC through appropriate diplomatic channels, saying: “The IHC must respect PNG as a sovereign nation and not participate in actions involving unscrupulous people and undermine public health and safety measures.”
Supandy told The National that the Indonesians had all returned negative results for the Covid-19.
“All the Indonesians are currently in quarantine (for 21 days) with no one reported to have left their quarantine sites,” he said.
“The process was entirely to provide assistance for Indonesians to board the aircraft. The support and recommendation issued by the Indonesian Embassy for the Indonesian citizens was carried out formally and respectfully to PNG Government regulations.
“I believe Garuda itself had strictly adhered to international standards and safety procedures when ferrying passenger.
“Based on the information I received from Garuda, during the transit of the flight in Jakarta and departing for Port Moresby, there were only Indonesians with valid immigration documents and approvals.
“I conveyed the same information in my meeting with the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Department secretary last Friday.
“I am glad that we share the same perspective on this issue.
“It was clear that what we experienced are technical issues and we have to be able to see it appropriately.
“I would like to assure you that the safety and well-being of Papua New Guineans are also our concern.
“We (Indonesia and PNG) also agreed that the most important thing for the way forward is the willingness from the relevant authorities to provide a further solution.”
The IHC had yet to respond to The National’s request for a response to the controversial flight, other than maintaining that none of its 42 passengers from New Delhi tested positive for the Covid-19.