REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said he would contact the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O'Neil, regarding the release of two Indonesian citizens who became hostages in the country.

"In the afternoon I would call the Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, to discuss release of the hostages. This morning, our Foreign Minister and Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister, had also been communicating by phone," said President Jokowi, Thursday (17/9).

However, according to Jokowi, Indonesia's efforts to release the two citizens depended on the Papua New Guinea's government. The president also did not expect the two hostages, because the location of the hostages was in other countries.

"Indonesia is ready to help the release of the two Indonesians, but it has to get permission from the government of Papua New Guinea," Jokowi added.

On a different occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi also confirmed that efforts to release two Indonesian citizens in Papua New Guinea, was still being communicated with her team in the country.

"Regarding the liberation of our citizens in Papua New Guinea, I already communicated with the Foreign Minister and Commander of Military of Papua New Guinea," said Retno when met at the State Palace complex in Jakarta on Thursday.

Earlier, two citizens, namely Sudirman and Badar, was taken hostage by armed groups in Papua New Guinea. The actor behind the case was Jeffrey Pagawak, which was already entered List of People Search of Police since 2006 and allegedly involved in Bloody Abepura incident in 2012.

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