Australian man to be deported

A 61-year-old Australian, Garry Jhon Palmer, and his daughter Tahani Wulandari, 7, will be deported for having no stay permit despite the fact that they have been living for some eight years in the town of Karanganyar, Central Java, according to an immigration official.

Surakarta Immigration Office head of supervision Munsya Putera Sembiring said on Wednesday that the deportation would take place on Nov. 21.

"They will fly Qantas Airlines from Denpasar's I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport at 2 p.m. local time," he said.

"We've notified the Australian Embassy and made arrangements for their security," Munsya added.

Palmer, who was born in Edmonton, Australia, and his daughter Tahani, only possessed a temporary stay permit, known as a Kitas.

Palmer, first entered Jakarta in 1992, and later married Tamiyati, now 37, a native of Karanganyar on April 3, 1993.

The couple's only child, Tahani, holds an Australian passport, Munsya said.

He said Palmer worked as an English language teacher in Karanganyar.

Palmer and Tahani's illegal stay was revealed by immigration following a tip-off by a local resident. --JP

Police ready to safeguard holidays

Yogyakarta Police chief Yohannes Wahyu Suronto has assured that police would safeguard the ancient city from any violence during festivities surrounding the fasting month of Ramadhan, Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Speaking to media here on Wednesday, Yohannes said that more than 4,250 officers, two-thirds of Yogyakarta Police personnel, would be deployed throughout the city and its surrounding areas.

"The number does not include some 200 personnel from the Police's Mobile Brigade and bomb squad units," Yohannes said.

He said that preliminary duties had already begun, with intensive patrols and operations starting before Ramadhan.

Some 27 community service posts throughout the province would also be opened to the public during Ramadhan, Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year's Eve.

"All police preparations are designed in a special operation codenamed 'Ketupat Lilin Progo 2001'," he said.

Yogyakarta has recently earned a reputation for religious and political clashes.

As a result, Yohannes suggested that the provincial administration have all entertainment centers closed during Ramadhan. --JP