"The district's Bawaslu head and human resources division head had coordinated with the local SAR agency on February 15, and they are coordinating again now. They have also coordinated with the local authority on February 16," Malonda stated at a press conference here on Tuesday.
The Mimika District Bawaslu facilitated the family of the missing official to join the search team on February 18-22, 2024. However, the search at that time yielded no result, he remarked.
"We will ensure that our officials continue working with their safety assured while also coordinating with the security authority, particularly as we know that this incident occurs in Papua," the commissioner noted.
Malonda also said that the local Bawaslu had deliberated strategies to locate the missing election monitoring official after confirming his status as missing.
Meanwhile, Bawaslu head Rahmat Bagja remarked that based on the latest information about the missing person's whereabouts, the official was last seen walking towards a jungle.
"All elements, including the security officers and relevant officials, have searched the missing official in the jungle as well as at several locations where he was reportedly last seen," Bagja stated.
The agency head affirmed that despite the missing officer case, the election recapitulation process is still underway in Mimika District.
Mimika Police Chief, Adjunct Senior Commissioner I Gede Putra, stated on Monday (February 26) that his side had established a joint search team to locate the missing election monitoring officer.
He said that the team comprised military and police officers, SAR officers, and family members of the missing officer.
The missing officer was reportedly last seen abruptly leaving a pre-election meeting with local officials and walking towards a jungle on February 11, the police chief stated.
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Translator: Rio Feisal, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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