19 Sri Lankans to be deported

19 Sri Lankans to be deported

JAKARTA (JP): The government is to deport 19 Sri Lankans who
were arrested in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara and are currently
being held at the immigration department's quarantine detention
center on Jl. Kalideres, West Jakarta, for violating immigration
regulations.

The head of the department's control and supervision section,
Zaiman Nurmatias, said yesterday that 19 people were arrested in
Kupang July 26 for trying to illegally enter Australia by boat.

"Sixteen of the people hold Sri Lankan passports while the
other three did not have any travel documents," Zaiman said.

He said the people admitted to using the boat they had rented
for Rp 9.5 million (US$3,653) to flee to Australia.

Kupang's immigration office sent them to Jakarta on Friday, he
said.

The immigration department was trying to liaise with the Sri
Lankan Embassy yesterday to arrange the deportation, Zaiman said
without giving details. (jun)