REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Indonesia has been disappointed by Australia`s offer of asylum to an alleged mastermind of human trafficking, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marty Natalegawa, said this week. He made the statement in the wake of reports about Australia`s decision to grant a residence permit to an Iraqi-born alleged human smuggler, known as Captain Emad, who entered Australia through Indonesia in January 2010.

"Certainly the fact needs to be confirmed. I know the Australian government has given stay permits to several people allegedly involved in human smuggling. Certainly this is very disappointing for Indonesia and is unacceptable," Marty said.

He added "it would be logically difficult to understand" if an alleged human smuggler was issued a residence permit, while the victims of smuggling remained detained. "As far as I know, the Australian government is still investigating into how this man who has been accused of being a mastermind of human smuggling has been granted a stay permit in Australia," Marty explained.

He said the Indonesian government had communicated with the Australian government in connection with the matter. "What is certain is that they are seeking to know how this man could obtain a stay permit in Australia," Marty added.

According to Four Corners, an ABC television programme, Eman entered Australia under the name of Ali Al Abassi. In April 2010, only three months after arriving in Australia, Emad obtained a refugee visa and a resident status.

It said Emad was currently working as a collector of trolleys at a supermarket. His wife and three grown-up children and their spouses also received refugee status using names that were different from the ones they used in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika