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)