Sixty fishermen held in Australia

Sixty fishermen held in Australia

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The Australian government is still
holding 60 Indonesian fishermen on charges of illegal entry into
Australian territorial waters, Antara reported.

They are still awaiting trial, according to Laurensius Belang
from the provincial office of social services here yesterday.

Australian immigration authorities repatriated by air last
week 26 fishermen from Sulawesi and Roti island in East Nusa
Tenggara.

Many of them were repeat offenders who, Belang said, enjoyed
the "special" treatment accorded them by the Australian
government, such as a free flight home.

From April to early December 1997, the Australian government
repatriated 636 Indonesian fishermen by chartered aircraft via
Kupang's El Tari Airport. (swe)