Indonesian army elements are reportedly behind a plan to attack a PNG office in retaliation for the killing of an Indonesian fisherman.

Various intelligence sources, both from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, yesterday confirmed they had heard of the threats and were treating them seriously. Both officials also said reports reaching them stated the fisherman killed was a member of the special armed forces Koppassus. Officials say he was given a military funeral and buried at a military cemetery under armed security.

PNG Consul General in Jayapura Jeffrey Toloube said yesterday: "I have discontinued my regular training sessions because of the threats and our staff have cut down on outings because of these threats." Mr Toloube said they had not received any direct threats, nor have they received any petitions as reported earlier but they had been informed of a protest march.

Last Tuesday, a lawyer (Mayoni Sinega) representing the villagers met with him over the fisherman issue but was turned back because the PNG office had asked for it to be put in black and white. He had with him a report asking for clarification and restitution (way of compensation). The report, written in Indonesian, is now being translated for the PNG Government. The PNG mission is in close consultation with the Indonesian Foreign Ministry on the security threat. Necessary security precautions have been undertaken.

The sources also added that the fisherman was not from South Sulawesi as reported but from Java. They said the fisherman was given a military funeral and buried in a military cemetery that is securely cordoned, a report backed by PNG government officials returning recently from Indonesia. The officials said they could not take pictures to use as evidence because the place was heavily guarded by armed securities. The Indonesian Embassy in Port Moresby yesterday denied the reports stressing they had acknowledged official PNG reports that the man was a fisherman.