Ten Afghan immigrants apprehended in Makassar

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Police apprehended 10 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan on Friday and Saturday in Makassar.

In the past three days, the police have arrested a total of 16 illegal immigrants, mostly from Afghanistan, on their way to Australia.

Chief of Makassar Police intelligence division, Comr. Karim Samandi, said on Saturday that three out of the 10 immigrants were those who escaped from detention center in Bollangi, Gowa regency, South Sulawesi.

The other seven, he added, have just arrived in Makassar from Jakarta. They took late local flight, not international ones to avoid tight security check. Police officers searched their hotel room and discovered they had no travel documents like passports or visas, he said.

"They said it would be easier for them to get to Australia through Makassar. They probably have a *travel* agent to help smooth their way to Australia," Karim said.

The Australian government has suspended processing claims for asylum for the next six months for Afghan refugees and three months for Sri Lankan refugees, causing a backlog of migrants in Indonesia. - JP