The two crew and three passengers landed at Mopah Airport in Merauke on September 13 without proper visas, flight approval or security clearance.

Efrem Fangohoy, chairman of the Indonesian Bar Association's (IKADIN) Merauke branch, said his office had received a letter Tuesday from the National Police, requesting the association provide legal counsel for the five Australians.

"According to Criminal Code Procedures, when someone is named a suspect, they have to be accompanied by a lawyer," Efrem told The Jakarta Post over the phone from Jayapura on Thursday.

The five Australians are pilot William Henry Scott Bloxam and co-pilot Vera Scott Bloxam, and passengers Hubert Hofer, Karen Burke and Keith Rowald Mortimer.

In the letter, Efrem said, the police stated that an initial investigation indicated the five Australians had violated Articles 58 and 13 (2) of law No.15/1992 on aviation, and Articles 53 and 6 of law No. 9/1992 on immigration.

The aviation articles regulate the operation of foreign aircraft in Indonesian airspace, and carry a maximum of five years in prison and a Rp 60 million (US$6,400) fine.

The immigration articles deal with illegal entry, and carry a maximum of six years in prison and a Rp 30 million fine.

Efrem said the Australian Embassy in Jakarta had also contacted him and asked for legal assistance from Ikadin for the five Australians.

"But the request so far was only verbally made. The written one will come later," he said.

Despite being officially appointed by the National Police, Efrem and his associates did not assist the Australians in Wednesday's questioning over their requests, he said.

The five are currently being detained at the Merauke Immigration Office's quarantine room, while their twin-piston P-68 airplane, with registration code VH-PFP, is being guarded by the Indonesian Air Force and airport security officials.

Tight security is in place to handle threats by local residents to burn the airplane in retaliation to the Australian government's "stern actions" against Indonesian fishermen allegedly crossing into Australian waters.

"We are on guard to prevent the situation from deteriorating," said Merauke Air Base chief Lt. Col. M Somin, adding that the illegal flight was made possible because of a lack of surveillance radar in southern Papua.

"We have started constructing a radar station in Merauke, and it will be operational by 2010," he said.

Because of this shortcoming, the southern part of eastern Indonesia is believed to be prone to illegal flights and trespasses.

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