Suspected Australian pedophiles in Lombok

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)