Australia deports 13 Indonesians

KUPANG, East Nusa Tanggara: Thirteen Indonesian fishermen that Australia deported last week landed here on Saturday, a local official said yesterday.

The fishermen from East Nusa Tenggara and Maluku had been arrested by Australian authorities in Darwin on charges of territorial infringement.

Lambertus Labi Dorok of the local office of social service told Antara that 330 Indonesian fishermen had been deported from Australia for similar charges as of October.

He said the fishermen fished for sea slugs and whales near Indonesia's Pasir Island, about 390 miles north of Darwin.

A kilogram of sea slugs sells for as much as Rp 70,000 (US$30) on the local market, he said. (pan)