Two Bangladeshis to be deported

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Two Bangladeshi citizens, Ali Reza, 25, and Ahmad Shah, 27, who have been detained by the immigration office here since Jan. 16, will be taken to Jakarta tomorrow and deported soon after, Antara reported.

Soehirwand, head of the local immigration office, said on Monday the two Bangladeshi citizens had been detained for entering Indonesia illegally via Batam from Singapore.

"They have been in poor health in the past two months and we fear the two might die in detention," said Soehirwand, adding that it would strain ties between the two countries.

He did not identify the illnesses, but said both Ali Reza and Ahmad Shah had been hospitalized at least seven times during their detention.