Wiri helps woman return home

A PAPUA New Guinean woman who alleged that she had been physically abused by her Indonesia husband for seven years in Jayapura was “rescued” by Papua New Guinea (PNG) Consul-General Geoffrey Wiri and his team.
Celina Jasmir, of mixed West Sepik and Milne Bay parentage, was repatriated to West Sepik with two other Papua New Guineans on Monday without National Pandemic (Covid-19) Controller David Manning’s approval. Wiri said Jasmir had been living illegally in Jayapura since 2013 and “we do not know how she crossed the border with her mixed Henganofi (Eastern Highlands)-Nabire (West Papua) husband”.
Wiri told The National on Tuesday that “the other two PNG citizens, Fritson Nivani and Mosis Lakman, both from West Sepik, have been released from Jayapura’s Doyo narcotic prison after completing their four-year sentences for drug smuggling”.
Wiri said they were repatriated at the same time when 48 Indonesians residing in PNG were repatriated to Jayapura from West Sepik.
“The Indonesians were repatriated with Manning’s approval,” he said.
“But Manning did not approve the Papua New Guineans’ repatriation.
“We just repatriated them since Manning had already approved the Indonesians’ repatriation.
“But they were escorted by the West Sepik Covid-19 team to Vanimo and will undergo the 14 days quarantine under the PNG Covid-19 protocol.
“They have also undergone the Indonesian Covid-19 protocol before repatriation,” he added.
Wiri thanked the Indonesian and PNG border officers at Skouw (Indonesian border office) and Wutung (PNG border office) for their peaceful and understanding in allowing a smooth transition of Papua New Guineans to return home.
“Jasmir was supposed to have been repatriated on March 22, with four other Papua New Guineans.”
“Since PNG immigration officers were not available then, we brought her back to my residence in Jayapura while the four PNG citizens were forced to illegally re-enter PNG because Indonesian border officers did not allow them back,” he added.