Suspected Australian pedophiles in Lombok

JAKARTA (JP): Two suspected child molesters of Australian nationality are reportedly residing in Bau Nyale beach in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

Antara quoted Praya district head Lalu Ayudin as saying yesterday that the Australians, one a diplomat formerly posted in Jakarta, are currently under police surveillance.

The Australian press alleged on Wednesday that five Australian men, including a former member of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), were running a pedophile ring in Kampung Kemulah in Lombok.

Sydney's Daily Telegraph said that the ring involved local boys as young as 10 years of age. One of the five men, a former teacher from Sydney, earlier escaped prosecution by Australian police and is now living in Kemulah, the report said.

Videotapes of young boys taken by the teacher appeared at a police royal commission last month in the Australian state of New South Wales. The tapes have also received wide exposure on Australian television.

Central Lombok's deputy chief of police, Maj. Made Suwindu, said he has been instructed by Nusa Tenggara's regional police to monitor the two.

"We're keeping an eye on them, we don't want any of our children to fall prey," he said.

West Nusa Tenggara police chief Col. Mudji Santoso promised to hold a press conference on the matter on Monday.

Head of the provincial immigration office Soenarso and his colleague Sudirman told Antara that they have not received any request for deportation, even though the two men are reportedly wanted by the Australian Federal Police.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said during his visit here earlier this week that Canberra will apply "high and ruthless standards" to apprehend their Asia-based officials allegedly engaging in pedophilic activities.

"We want any allegations of pedophile activity followed up rigorously, unequivocally and with real commitment," Downer said.

Downer, however, said he would not comment on the Lombok sex ring allegation because of privacy issues and fears of prejudicing Australian Federal Police investigations.

He said Australian police have been investigating a series of allegations raised over the last 12 months against members of the Australian foreign service.

Downer revealed that a senior Australian diplomat was charged with pedophilia two weeks ago under the Child Sex Tourism Amendment Act of 1994. He is due to appear in court in Australia on April 30.

Another officer is being investigated, but no charges have been announced. The officer, who served terms in Asia with the foreign service, has not yet been suspended, Downer said. (swe)