(09/29/2007)
AMBON - One Thai and five Burmese nationals have been deported from Southeast Maluku district for not possessing legal stay permits, a local official said.

The six foreigners, who were working as crew members on Maluku fishing boats operating in Arafura waters, were deported several days ago, Tual immigration office head Yohanes Saiya said Friday.

"We launched intensive operations to capture illegal aliens who had rented rooms in Tual and were working as sailors in the region. We also asked people in Tual to refuse to rent rooms to foreigners without first checking their stay permits," he said.

Tual immigration officials also warned local people about the threat of the deadly HIV/AIDS virus, which could be transmitted from foreigners, he said.

Since January, the Tual immigration office has expelled 73 foreigners: 34 from Myanmar, 24 from Thailand, 12 from Cambodia and the remaining three from other countries. (JP/PAB)