The head of the International Organisation for Migration in Papua New Guinea says there is a nothing to suggest a boat intercepted in the country's waters was carrying Vietnamese asylum seekers.
The chief of mission for the IOM in Papua New Guinea, George Gigauri Photo: Supplied
Australian media reports suggest the boat, which was intercepted near PNG last week, was carrying a group of 15 Vietnamese seeking asylum in Australia.
George Gigauri says the IOM is waiting for Vietnamese interpreters to arrive to conduct in-depth interviews, but all signs point to them being fishermen.
"The initial screening has been done. We need the in-depth interviews to get all the information we need, but there is no indication at this point whatsoever that these people are asylum seekers, I can say that at this stage."
George Gigauri says the boat is now being held by the PNG government in Port Moresby while an investigation is carried out.