ID :
53534
Thu, 04/02/2009 - 20:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/53534
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DETAINED AFGHAN NATIONALS IN PUNCAK HAIL FROM PESHAWAR
Bogor, April 2 (ANTARA) - The 22 Afghan nationals detained in the Puncak area by Bogor immigration officers on Thursday on suspicion they were illegal immigrants, belong to the Hazara tribe in Peshawar, an immigration official said.
Head of the Bogor immigration office Ade Endang Dachlan said here on Thursday the 22 Afghan nationals who claimed to be members of Hazara tribe in Peshawar appeared to be victims of a human trafficking operation involving a major syndicate.
"This is a mafia plot. We are still looking for those behind the mafia," he said, adding that numerous Afghan nationals had entered Indonesia illegally over the past few years in the hope of being able eventually to reach Australia also illegally.
Ade Endang Dachlan said the 22 Afghan nationals, arrested at two separate locations namely Kenanga Hotel-2 at Cipayung and Ragal Hotel at Tugu Selatan, were all male ranging in age between 31 and 40 years.
Based on a preliminary investigation they entered Indonesia without legal travel documents, without visas, and therefore they were accommodated separately by the syndicate.
"The Afghan nationals admitted that they had left their home country in a group of 120 people for Indonesia," Ade Endang said.
According to him, Indonesia so far has been a transit point in various human trafficking activities.
"It is actually an old game which is unveiled again, and there is an indication that because they have asked for asylum, the case will be handled by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or International Organization for Migration (IOM)," he said.
He added the IOM at present was using nine locations or hotels in Bogor to accommodate foreigners who asked for asylum.
The accommodations are among others Anggrek Hotel, Kenanga-1 Hotel, Kenanga-2 Hotel, Ragal Hotel, Ciburial Hotel, Esten Hotel, Sinar Mutiara Hotel, and Vila Kembar Hotel.
Ade said some 164 foreigners who entered Indonesia illegally are being accommodated in those nine hotels.
Head of the Bogor immigration office Ade Endang Dachlan said here on Thursday the 22 Afghan nationals who claimed to be members of Hazara tribe in Peshawar appeared to be victims of a human trafficking operation involving a major syndicate.
"This is a mafia plot. We are still looking for those behind the mafia," he said, adding that numerous Afghan nationals had entered Indonesia illegally over the past few years in the hope of being able eventually to reach Australia also illegally.
Ade Endang Dachlan said the 22 Afghan nationals, arrested at two separate locations namely Kenanga Hotel-2 at Cipayung and Ragal Hotel at Tugu Selatan, were all male ranging in age between 31 and 40 years.
Based on a preliminary investigation they entered Indonesia without legal travel documents, without visas, and therefore they were accommodated separately by the syndicate.
"The Afghan nationals admitted that they had left their home country in a group of 120 people for Indonesia," Ade Endang said.
According to him, Indonesia so far has been a transit point in various human trafficking activities.
"It is actually an old game which is unveiled again, and there is an indication that because they have asked for asylum, the case will be handled by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or International Organization for Migration (IOM)," he said.
He added the IOM at present was using nine locations or hotels in Bogor to accommodate foreigners who asked for asylum.
The accommodations are among others Anggrek Hotel, Kenanga-1 Hotel, Kenanga-2 Hotel, Ragal Hotel, Ciburial Hotel, Esten Hotel, Sinar Mutiara Hotel, and Vila Kembar Hotel.
Ade said some 164 foreigners who entered Indonesia illegally are being accommodated in those nine hotels.
