Wanggai's Family Meet the President
Thursday, 20 April, 2006 | 13:57 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Family members of Siti Pandera Wanggai met President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, yesterday (19/4).

They included Nicholas E. Wanggai (grandfather), Jack Muabai (grandfather), Marvin Wanggai (uncle) and Jerry Wanggai (brother).

In the meeting Yudhoyono was accompanied by the State Minister for Women’s Empowerment Meutia Hatta, Police Chief of the National Police General Sutanto, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Marshal Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Widodo AS, Justice and Human Rights Minister Hamid Awaluddin and Papua's Governor Sodjuangon Situmorang.

“We asked the President to bring our granddaughter, Aneke Wanggai, home as soon as possible,” said Marvin in a press statement after meeting Yudhoyono, yesterday.

Aneke Wanggai is the daugher of Siti, one of the 43 Papuans who went to Australia to seek political asylum.
Marvin said, the family also asked the President to help finding Siti Pandera, who is lost.

According to the family, Siti was last seen on Tuesday (11/4) when she was leaving to sell areca nuts at the market.

Marvin also said that the request was brought forward by the family without pressure from any outside party.

He also disputed that Siti was pressured to ask her daughter to be returned from Australia, and he was of the opinion that the news in Australian newspapers was not clear.

“There has been no pressure from the intelligence authorities, the TNI or the police,” said Marvin.

General Sutanto said that the police have been trying to find Siti.

Papua Regional Police, he said, have also been searching.
Regarding Aneke, Sutanto said that Indonesia will proceed using diplomatic channels.

Oktamandjaya Wiguna