Aussie consul may be expelled

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.