Fishermen rescue six

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
SIX Wuvulu Islanders are in Jayapura after drifting into Indonesian waters when travelling between Manus and East Sepik, Manus disaster and emergency coordinator Janet Konabe says.
“They left for Wewak in East Sepik on July 13, leaving Wuvulu Island in a dinghy.
“But their outboard motor engine broke down and so they drifted for five days into Indonesian waters and Indonesian fishermen rescued them on Saturday,” Konabe said.
“They were brought to Jayapura and are being processed by the Indonesian immigrations with the help of the PNG Consulate Office.
They will be repatriated when given clearance by PNG authorities.
Meanwhile Jayapura-based PNG consul-general Geoffrey Wiri said they had repatriated a second batch of PNG citizens to Port Moresby on Friday on a chartered Air Niugini plane.
“We repatriated 10 PNG students and three other PNG citizens. The plane arrived here at Sentani Airport and took them back to Port Moresby and are now being quarantined there,” Wiri said.
“These PNG citizens were studying and working throughout the Indonesian archipelago and we brought all of them to Jayapura to prepare them to be repatriated to PNG.”
Wiri also said they were now awaiting PNG approval for their repatriation.
“Two PNG prisoners have already completed their sentences for drug smuggling. Brian Saban, 22, from Aitape in West Sepik, is now in the immigration detention in Makassar City, Sulawesi province, after completing his term in the Bolangi Narcotic Prison.
Clyde Doyango, 21, also from Aitape, is now in the immigration detention in Jayapura City, Papua Province, after completing his term in Doyo Narcotic Prison.”