Aussie consul may be expelled

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The Australian Honorary Consul for East Nusa Tenggara Donald Eric van Cooten is likely to be expelled from the province as the provincial Ministry of Manpower has refused to issue a letter of recommendation for the extension of his visa here, an official said on Friday.

The ministry's office head Priyono said Cooten had received a work permit as a staff member of a local foundation, the Yayasan Bina Mandiri. He has violated the law because he also worked as a consul for Australia.

Cooten's visa will expire next Saturday.

"I will ask Jakarta to cancel the recommendation for Cooten," Priyono said as quoted by Antara.

The foundation acts as his sponsor to enable him to extend his working visa. He has worked for the foundation as an agricultural consultant since 1996.

According to the immigration office here, Cooten's residence permit expired last Dec. 31, but it has been extended until Jan. 30.

"We extended the permit for one month until Jan 30, pending the issuance of a recommendation, if any, from the Ministry of Manpower," said its spokesman Surya Pranata.