13 Afghans, 1 Pakistani national arrested in Indonesia

Jakarta, August 15, 2011 (PPI): South Kalimantan Police on Sunday arrested 13 people from Afghanistan and one person from Pakistan at a hotel in the city of Banjarbaru, Jakarta Post reported on Monday.

They were said to be refugees and illegal migrant workers. The 14 were staying in two standard rooms that had been rented out for one month, hotel owner Tambar said. “I was surprised at the sudden arrival of the police. The police then interrogated me at Banjarbaru Police office. I told them what I know,” Tambar said.

He added that all he knew was that the group had stayed at his hotel since their arrival from Shamsuddin Noor Airport in Banjarmasin, and were planning to work at a mine in Batulicin district in the South Kalimantan town of Tanah Bumbu, replacing local workers who were going to take leave for Eid-ul- Fitr.