Thai fishermen deported

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The local immigration office will deport six Thai fishermen who have just completed jail terms for entering Indonesian territories illegally.

Spokesman for the office Pardamean Siagian said the authorities have contacted the Thai embassy in Jakarta for arrangement of the deportation.

The Thai fishermen had spent four months in the Labuhan Deli prison for territorial infringement.

Siagian said one of the Thais had tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), the virus that causes the deadly Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). He declined to reveal which of them had the disease, so that the person would not be isolated by the others.

The six Thais have been quarantined while waiting for Thai embassy officials to arrange their departure, Antara reported. (pan)