Honorary consul work permit held

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The East Nusa Tenggara office of the Ministry of Manpower is keeping the work permit of Australia's honorary consul, Donald Eric van Cooten, 39, pending Antara reported Monday.

"So far I have not signed his permit," the head of the office, Priyono said. "There are still several things we have to check regarding his presence here."

According to the immigration office here Van Cooten was only permitted to stay up to Dec. 31. However the Bina Mandiri foundation, a non-governmental organization which has employed him since 1996, had tried to extend his visa to Jan. 30.

The head of supervision at the immigration office, Surya Pranata, confirmed his office has extended Van Cooten's visa for a month to Jan. 30 pending a recommendation from the local office of the ministry of manpower.

An extension could be issued three times, after which the person concerned would have to be deported if the manpower office had not issued a work permit recommendation, Surya said.

The agency quoted him as saying that Van Cooten had worked for the Bina Mandiri foundation as an agricultural consultant since 1996.