841 foreigners deported in 2000

JAKARTA: Indonesia deported 841 foreign citizens in 2001 for violations of immigration regulations, an immigration official said here on Wednesday.

Muhammad Indra, director for immigration control of foreign nationals, at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, said the violations ranged from overstaying, stay permit abuses, illegal entry and the use of fake visas.

Data at the Directorate General of Immigration shows that the number of deportees has increased over the past three years, from 479 in 1998 and 585 in 1999 to 660 in 2000.

Indra said in a press statement that the foreigners came mostly from Pakistan, China, South Korea, and Afghanistan.

The immigration office frequently asked assistance from embassies of the respective countries or relatives of the foreigners for financial help to deport them, Indra said.

The immigration office reported that 1,663 illegal immigrants entered Indonesia last year. According to UNHCR reports, 478 received refugee status, 898 were categorized as asylum seekers and 23 were sent to a third country.--JP