Priest barred from traveling overseas

JAKARTA (JP): Immigration officials yesterday barred Jesuit Catholic priest Ignatius Sandyawan Sumardi, previously cleared of charges of harboring leftist activists wanted by police, from traveling to Perth, Australia for eye surgery.

The priest's legal counsel, Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan, said Father Sandyawan was scheduled to undergo surgery today.

Sandyawan, better known as Romo (father) Sandy, was told at the Soekarno-Hatta airport by an immigration official named Firman that he could not leave.

The travel ban was slapped on Sandyawan on the order of Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, Luhut said.

The lawyer said that 38-year-old Sandyawan had never received a written notice of the ban, as stipulated by the immigration laws.

"I need clarification from the Armed Forces chief about the travel ban imposed on my client, who needs eye surgery because of an injury sustained during a motorcycle accident," he said.

Sandyawan was previously accused of harboring activists of the unrecognized Democratic People's Party, wanted by the police last year for allegedly masterminding the July 27 riots.

Sandyawan leads an organization which actively helps street children, workers and poor people caught in land disputes. (01)