Deported boy leaves for S'pore

Deported boy leaves for S'pore

SURABAYA: Four-year-old Andreya Masaru Miyakoshi and his
Indonesian mother, Atik Kristia Yuliani, flew to Singapore
yesterday where they are to stay two days before returning to
Indonesia.

Andreya, born a Japanese citizen because of the citizenship of
his father, Mitsuo Miyakoshi, was deported for overstaying his
visa by more than seven months.

Andreya's visa expired in May. His mother, who has lived in
Denpasar, Bali, for the last several months, said she delayed
reporting the expired visa because she had no money.

The deportation caught the public's attention not only because
Andreya was so young but because his parents were airing their
dirty linen in public.

The directorate general of immigration of the Ministry of
Justice in a press release yesterday denied it was acting
inhumanely by deporting Andreya. "We have been acting very
humanely by not bringing him to court and not preventing him from
reentering Indonesia," the office said.

Officials have said that not only could Andreya's permits be
renewed and extended several times, he could also apply for
Indonesian citizenship after he turned 18. (27/swe)