Indonesia seeks clarification over asylum seeking in Australia

The Indonesian government is seeking confirmation from Australian authorities over reported asylum seeking by six people from Papua province, a spokesman said Wednesday.

"We heard that a family with four children has landed in Australia. We don't know who they are and what they are looking for there," Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Desra Percaya told reporters here.

"We are now working to get clarification," said Desra.

Australian media has reported that six boat people from Papua have landed on an uninhabited island in northern Australia three days ago.

The bilateral ties between Indonesia and Australia are strained by Canberra's move to grant visas to 42 asylum seekers from Papua last month. Indonesia has recalled its envoy to Canberra in protest.

Source: Xinhua