MERAUKE - The central government is encouraged to issue a letter of protest regarding the shooting down of a fishing boat from Merauke by the Papua New Guinean army that left one person dead, last Monday (22/08) in the waters of the island of Turi, Papua New Guinea.

This was conveyed by the Head of the Border Management and Foreign Cooperation Agency (BPKLN) of Papua Province, Suzana Wanggai to reporters in Merauke, Wednesday (24/08).

Although Papuan fishermen were found guilty of entering PNG waters, Suzana said the shooting was highly inappropriate. The Government of Papua is still waiting for confirmation and clarity from the Papua New Guinean government regarding the incident.

"Indeed, the fishermen are wrong because they catch fish and enter the waters of Papua New Guinea. But we also have to see this shooting incident as inhumane. They (PNG soldiers, ed) came to the ship and immediately strafed with gunfire," said Susi after accompanying the Regional Secretary in a meeting with Coordination Forum for Regional Leaders of Merauke and stake holders of the RI - PNG border in the Merauke region, at the local Regent's office.

She added that despite this incident, good relations between the two countries of Indonesia and PNG must be maintained.

"In the future, we will communicate again well. There will be discussion forums, we will sit to talk together about how, why it got like this. Of course, we will discuss it with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together," she hoped.

On that occasion, Susi also explained about two fishing boats from Merauke that were declared missing when the shooting incident occurred.

"We do not know the existence of the ships until now and we leave it entirely to the representatives of our government in Papua New Guinea in this case the Indonesian embassy in Port Moresby and the Consultants of the Republic of Indonesia consulate of the Republic of Indonesia in Vanimo to continue intense communication with the relevant authorities in Papua New Guinea," he said.

Meanwhile, during his working visit to Merauke, Regional Secretary of Papua, Ridwan Rumasukun, in addition to attending the meeting, also handed over assistance on behalf of the Provincial government to the families of the victims and 8 survivors. ***