BAU BAU POLICE HANDLING 39 ILLEGAL AFGHAN, CHILEAN IMMIGRANTS

Kendari, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Police in Bau Bau City are currently handling the case of a group of 39 Afghans and Chileans who have entered the country without any valid immigration documents.

Regional police information chief Fahrurozzi said here on Monday the 39 illegal immigrants consisting of 35 adult males, two adult women and two children arrived in East Kabaena district, Bombana District, a week ago.

"Police are now coordinating their actions on the illegal Afghan and Chilean immigrants with the Indonesian immigration office and the UN agency dealing with refugees," said Fahrurozzi.

The Caucasian immigrants who were now in police custody explained that they had to leave their country because of raging wars.

"One of their destination countries is Australia, not Indonesia. They are seeking political asylum due to the ongoing wars in their countries," Fahrurozzi.

Despite the illegal immigrants' confession to avoid war in their home countries, the police are still investigating the matter because they were in possession of legal documents either from their own countries or the country they were headed for,
The illegal immigrants had violated the immigration regulations, but they might be returned to their home countries.

A Kendari immigration officer, Jaya Putra, said his office was now questioning the illegal Afghan and Chilean immigrants.

"Someone who leaves his or her country for another country must carry certain legal documents," he said.