12 more "missing" Indians ready to talk with NZ officials

Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, July 18 (PTI) Authorities in New Zealand
have warned the 39 "missing" Indians that they will be
"forcibly removed" from the country if they violate their visa
conditions even as 12 of the runaways showed willingness to
appear before immigration officials.
Three members of the group, which disappeared after
arriving in Auckland on the pretext of travelling to Sydney to
see the Pope during World Youth Day celebrations, met the
officials Thursday who allowed them to go anywhere they want
after questioning.
However, the officials cautioned them to strictly
follow rules of their visa which expires on August 5 or they
will be "forcibly removed" from the country, New Zealand Sikh
Society spokesman Daljit Singh, who acted as an interpreter
for the three men, said.
A further 12 of the group that went missing have made
contact with the Society and Daljit said he was trying to
arrange a meeting between them and immigration officials.
The missing visitors were part of a wider group of
over 200 people who came to New Zealand for the World Youth
Day.
Officials are anxious to speak with the other 36
missing "pilgrims", but admit until their visitor permits
expire there is nothing much the Immigration Department can
do.
"We are keen to talk with them but we can't do
anything with them because they are here legally," an
Immigration Department spokesman told New Zealand Press
Association today.
He said unless they did something to contravene their
permit they were entitled to stay.
The spokesman said they were investigating the story
that thousands of dollars were paid to an Indian agent by the
visitors, but were yet to speak with authorities in India.
"We're getting information on that from people we've
talked to and we will act on that as necessary."
The three men who hail from Punjab were "reminded of
their obligations (at the meeting), but we can't do much more
than that," the spokesman said.
Daljit Singh said the three Catholics paid around
USD17,000 each to agents in India for what they thought would
be work permits when they landed in New Zealand.
They learnt they were supposed to be travelling to
World Youth Day in Sydney only when they got on the plane.
They said they were shocked to land in New Zealand and
discover they only had temporary visitors permits.
He said the Indians were advised by officials to
return home and apply for jobs in New Zealand from home.
The men said they would discuss with their families
back in India and seek advice from other agencies about what
to do next.
All three men are married and two have children. They
have jobs in Punjab as a carpenter, chemist shop assistant and
electrician, and borrowed the money to pay the immigration
agents in India.
The New Zealand Indian Central Association has urged
its members to help the authorities trace the remaining
missing men.