ID :
20057
Thu, 09/18/2008 - 01:20
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/20057
The shortlink copeid
FIVE AUSTRALIANS SAY TO BE ON A TOUR TO MERAUKE
Jakarta, Sept 17 (ANTARA) - The five Australian nationals who had illegally entered Merauke on board a small V-68 plane said they were on a tour, police spokesman Inspector General Abubakar Nataprawira said.
"It was reported that they landed in Merauke," he said here on Wednesday.
Their statement needs to be continuously studied by the investigators of the Merauke Immigration office.
They also admitted they entered Merauke as they did not know they needed a visa and entry permit when using a private plane.
The five thought a visa could be obtained in Merauke, like a visa on arrival and they also had no knowledge of a special permit required to enter a foreign country.
"All of the details are still being studied by the investigators, while the aircraft is handed over to the airforce, and their immigration problem is handled by the immigration authorities," Abubakar said.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade admitted that the five Australian citizens were held in Merauke, Papua, for enterring territory without proper travel documents.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Sunday the five Australians including two women arrived in Merauke by a small plane on Friday morning.
The DFAT as quoted by the ABC stated that the Australians had been arrested because they had no flight, security and immigration permits. They are now still under the supervision of the Indonesian authorities pending the issuance of the permits.
The Australian embassy in Jakarta has given consular assistance to the five who arrived in Papua from the Horn Island off Cape York, which is an hour flight away.
The five Australians who arrived by a small V-68 plane did not have a visa for entering Indonesia.
The chief of the Merauke air base, Lt Col M Somin, said he had only dealt with the case of a plane that had entered without permit.
"The plane did not carry a permit and moreover it is a foreign aircraft," he said.
He said his side still continued investigating the case including whether they were really tourists.
He said the plane with flight code VH-PFP also did not have a flight approval and a security clearance.
The five Australians are William Hendry Scott Bloxam, the pilot, Vera Scott Bloxam, the co-pilot, Hubert Hofer, Karen Burke and Ket Rowald Mortimer were passengers.
"It was reported that they landed in Merauke," he said here on Wednesday.
Their statement needs to be continuously studied by the investigators of the Merauke Immigration office.
They also admitted they entered Merauke as they did not know they needed a visa and entry permit when using a private plane.
The five thought a visa could be obtained in Merauke, like a visa on arrival and they also had no knowledge of a special permit required to enter a foreign country.
"All of the details are still being studied by the investigators, while the aircraft is handed over to the airforce, and their immigration problem is handled by the immigration authorities," Abubakar said.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade admitted that the five Australian citizens were held in Merauke, Papua, for enterring territory without proper travel documents.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Sunday the five Australians including two women arrived in Merauke by a small plane on Friday morning.
The DFAT as quoted by the ABC stated that the Australians had been arrested because they had no flight, security and immigration permits. They are now still under the supervision of the Indonesian authorities pending the issuance of the permits.
The Australian embassy in Jakarta has given consular assistance to the five who arrived in Papua from the Horn Island off Cape York, which is an hour flight away.
The five Australians who arrived by a small V-68 plane did not have a visa for entering Indonesia.
The chief of the Merauke air base, Lt Col M Somin, said he had only dealt with the case of a plane that had entered without permit.
"The plane did not carry a permit and moreover it is a foreign aircraft," he said.
He said his side still continued investigating the case including whether they were really tourists.
He said the plane with flight code VH-PFP also did not have a flight approval and a security clearance.
The five Australians are William Hendry Scott Bloxam, the pilot, Vera Scott Bloxam, the co-pilot, Hubert Hofer, Karen Burke and Ket Rowald Mortimer were passengers.
