Merged: Five Aussies arrested in Papua
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Merged: Five Aussies arrested in Papua
From Brisbane Times
Five Aussies arrested in Papua
September 15, 2008 - 6:07AM
Indonesia has arrested five Australians for illegally entering the sensitive easternmost province of Papua, an airport official said today.
The five Australians - two women and three men - flew from Australia in a light aircraft and landed illegally on Friday at Mopah airport in the Merauke district of Papua province, the head of the airport, Herson, said.
"They have been in an isolation room at the immigration office since Friday," said Herson, who like many Indonesians only uses one name.
The five were identified as pilots William Henry Scott Bloxam and Vera Scott Bloxam, and their passengers Hubert Hofer, Karen Burke and Keith Mortimer.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed that Mr Scott Bloxham was from Melbourne.
Indonesia clamps tight restrictions on travel to Papua, where a small guerrilla force has been waging a low-level separatist insurgency since the 1960s.
Journalists are barred from the region without special permits.
"They have no data approval nor security clearance required for landing here. They also have no visa and their passports are already expired," said Herson.
Currently the group are staying in a local hotel and remain under Indonesian supervision.
The head of the air force in Merauke, Muhammad Somin, told AFP the five Australians said they wanted to visit the area as tourists and had planned to fly home on Monday.
Herson said the Australian embassy in Jakarta was working to prepare all the necessary documents to allow their release.
With Scott Casey
Five Aussies arrested in Papua
September 15, 2008 - 6:07AM
Indonesia has arrested five Australians for illegally entering the sensitive easternmost province of Papua, an airport official said today.
The five Australians - two women and three men - flew from Australia in a light aircraft and landed illegally on Friday at Mopah airport in the Merauke district of Papua province, the head of the airport, Herson, said.
"They have been in an isolation room at the immigration office since Friday," said Herson, who like many Indonesians only uses one name.
The five were identified as pilots William Henry Scott Bloxam and Vera Scott Bloxam, and their passengers Hubert Hofer, Karen Burke and Keith Mortimer.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) confirmed that Mr Scott Bloxham was from Melbourne.
Indonesia clamps tight restrictions on travel to Papua, where a small guerrilla force has been waging a low-level separatist insurgency since the 1960s.
Journalists are barred from the region without special permits.
"They have no data approval nor security clearance required for landing here. They also have no visa and their passports are already expired," said Herson.
Currently the group are staying in a local hotel and remain under Indonesian supervision.
The head of the air force in Merauke, Muhammad Somin, told AFP the five Australians said they wanted to visit the area as tourists and had planned to fly home on Monday.
Herson said the Australian embassy in Jakarta was working to prepare all the necessary documents to allow their release.
With Scott Casey
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Anyone have any news of how Scotty and Co are fairing. I do know Scott and Vera and am a bit concerned for their welfare. I hope they are home soon and telling of their ordeal. To add to his woes I also heard a rumour that Cape Air has suspended all flights due to the Chief Pilot not being in a position to exercise his responsibilities. Is Scotty the Chief Pilot or does someone else hold this position?
I must admit I'm not surprised to hear of Scotty in this predicament as he always was a bit colourful.
I have done a search and found this in the Australian, Thur 18th Sept. The six month detention does not sound too good. Anything is possible in these parts I guess.
FIVE Australians held in Indonesia's politically sensitive region of Papua since Friday have been fined 28.6million rupiah ($3820) and moved into an immigration jail cell while authorities decide whether to charge or deport them.
Former airline pilot William Scott-Bloxam, his wife and co-pilot Vera Scott-Bloxam and their friends Hubert Hofer, Keith Mortimer and Karen Burke were arrested on their arrival at Mopah airport in the Papuan backwater of Merauke on Friday.
Indonesian authorities said the group had no visas or correct flight documentation for their twin-engined light aircraft, after flying from Horn Island in the Torres Strait.
They were held for four nights in the town's Asmat Hotel, before being moved on Tuesday to the holding cells at the local immigration office.
"They were moved to make the investigation easier," Merauke immigration chief Freddy Manus said. "The results will be reported to the director-general (in Jakarta) to take further steps, including deportation."
According to a local journalist, at least three of the group -- both women and one of the men -- were beginning to show signs of stress.
The fine imposed was only for the aircraft landing without proper documentation, and the group will face further penalties if the authorities decide to charge them with breaching Indonesian immigration law.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said the embassy in Jakarta was working with the Indonesian authorities in an effort to sort out documentation for the five.
"The embassy is in regular communication with the five Australians to ensure their welfare is safeguarded," he said. "Two embassy officials have travelled to Merauke and are providing assistance to the five Australians on the ground."
Susan Skyvington, whose son Saul Dalton was detained in Papua for six months in 1999, said the similarities with her son's case were chilling.
"In the first few days he was under house arrest in a hotel and (we were told) we were going to be able to get him out in a few days ... when the documents were sorted out.
"Then they were saying he was not going to be released, they were going to put him through a trial and he was moved to a military police outstation in the jungle."
Mr Dalton, then 25, had gone to East Timor to hand out how-to-vote cards during the referendum on independence from Jakarta. Indonesian-backed militias were intimidating independence supporters at the time and took a dim view of foreigners participating in the political process.
Ms Skyvington said that when violence erupted her son boarded a ferry to Papua to escape, and was told he could sort out his documentation when he arrived. In Papua, he was put to trial and given 10months' jail, which was reduced for good behaviour. He ended up spending six months in detention.
Ms Skyvington said that her son had never fully recovered from the experience, and now suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
I must admit I'm not surprised to hear of Scotty in this predicament as he always was a bit colourful.
I have done a search and found this in the Australian, Thur 18th Sept. The six month detention does not sound too good. Anything is possible in these parts I guess.
FIVE Australians held in Indonesia's politically sensitive region of Papua since Friday have been fined 28.6million rupiah ($3820) and moved into an immigration jail cell while authorities decide whether to charge or deport them.
Former airline pilot William Scott-Bloxam, his wife and co-pilot Vera Scott-Bloxam and their friends Hubert Hofer, Keith Mortimer and Karen Burke were arrested on their arrival at Mopah airport in the Papuan backwater of Merauke on Friday.
Indonesian authorities said the group had no visas or correct flight documentation for their twin-engined light aircraft, after flying from Horn Island in the Torres Strait.
They were held for four nights in the town's Asmat Hotel, before being moved on Tuesday to the holding cells at the local immigration office.
"They were moved to make the investigation easier," Merauke immigration chief Freddy Manus said. "The results will be reported to the director-general (in Jakarta) to take further steps, including deportation."
According to a local journalist, at least three of the group -- both women and one of the men -- were beginning to show signs of stress.
The fine imposed was only for the aircraft landing without proper documentation, and the group will face further penalties if the authorities decide to charge them with breaching Indonesian immigration law.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said the embassy in Jakarta was working with the Indonesian authorities in an effort to sort out documentation for the five.
"The embassy is in regular communication with the five Australians to ensure their welfare is safeguarded," he said. "Two embassy officials have travelled to Merauke and are providing assistance to the five Australians on the ground."
Susan Skyvington, whose son Saul Dalton was detained in Papua for six months in 1999, said the similarities with her son's case were chilling.
"In the first few days he was under house arrest in a hotel and (we were told) we were going to be able to get him out in a few days ... when the documents were sorted out.
"Then they were saying he was not going to be released, they were going to put him through a trial and he was moved to a military police outstation in the jungle."
Mr Dalton, then 25, had gone to East Timor to hand out how-to-vote cards during the referendum on independence from Jakarta. Indonesian-backed militias were intimidating independence supporters at the time and took a dim view of foreigners participating in the political process.
Ms Skyvington said that when violence erupted her son boarded a ferry to Papua to escape, and was told he could sort out his documentation when he arrived. In Papua, he was put to trial and given 10months' jail, which was reduced for good behaviour. He ended up spending six months in detention.
Ms Skyvington said that her son had never fully recovered from the experience, and now suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
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Be Careful which Island you land on north of TI......... 
From ninemsn today
From ninemsn today
Four Australians have each been jailed for two years for illegally entering Indonesia's Papua province.
The group was also fined 25 million rupiah ($A3,400), which could be exchanged for another two months imprisonment.
Vera Scott-Bloxam, 54, Hubert Hufer, 57, Karen Burke, 51, and Keith Ronald Mortimer, 60, were sentenced in Merauke District Court on Thursday, following a trial.
The group was accused of entering Indonesia illegally, after travelling to Papua on a small plane from Horn Island, off the tip of Queensland's Cape York on September 12.
The Australians have described it as a sightseeing flight and mistakenly believed they could get visas on arrival in Papua.
The pilot, William Scott-Bloxam, was later jailed for three years and fined 50 million rupiah ($A6,800) by Merauke District Court in Papua.
The fine could be exchanged for an extra three months imprisonment, the court ruled.
Following the verdict Vera Scott-Bloxam expressed disbelief.
"I can't believe this, I will let the lawyers deal with this," she said.
The group's lawyer Efrem Fangohoy flagged an appeal.
"We clearly reject this decision and we will go for an appeal," he said.
Papua province has been troubled by a low-level separatist insurgency since the 1960s.
Journalists are barred from entering Papua without special permission, and human rights groups have accused the Indonesian military of widespread human rights abuses there.
The group was also fined 25 million rupiah ($A3,400), which could be exchanged for another two months imprisonment.
Vera Scott-Bloxam, 54, Hubert Hufer, 57, Karen Burke, 51, and Keith Ronald Mortimer, 60, were sentenced in Merauke District Court on Thursday, following a trial.
The group was accused of entering Indonesia illegally, after travelling to Papua on a small plane from Horn Island, off the tip of Queensland's Cape York on September 12.
The Australians have described it as a sightseeing flight and mistakenly believed they could get visas on arrival in Papua.
The pilot, William Scott-Bloxam, was later jailed for three years and fined 50 million rupiah ($A6,800) by Merauke District Court in Papua.
The fine could be exchanged for an extra three months imprisonment, the court ruled.
Following the verdict Vera Scott-Bloxam expressed disbelief.
"I can't believe this, I will let the lawyers deal with this," she said.
The group's lawyer Efrem Fangohoy flagged an appeal.
"We clearly reject this decision and we will go for an appeal," he said.
Papua province has been troubled by a low-level separatist insurgency since the 1960s.
Journalists are barred from entering Papua without special permission, and human rights groups have accused the Indonesian military of widespread human rights abuses there.
Aussie in trouble
A court in Merauke today handed down a judgment to a lovable larrikin of the far north that beggars belief,met the bugger in Kuwait ,many sun downers,sure he should have had a GD,but to cop 3 years is a joke. KRUD and his cronies need to intervene
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Scotty used to fly internationally for a living and he knows the rules thoroughly. He knowingly flew into a restricted area of a sovereign country without permission, valid passports or visas.
When people arrive in Australia this way, we call them boat people, bang them up without trial for a few years, and then bill them for the privilege.
I feel very sorry for the other people on the flight, but Scotty knew exactly what he was doing.
When people arrive in Australia this way, we call them boat people, bang them up without trial for a few years, and then bill them for the privilege.
I feel very sorry for the other people on the flight, but Scotty knew exactly what he was doing.
Bottums Up
And what should KRUD and his cronies do?
Whilst I agree, that on the surface a gaol sentence, given the explanation that he gaolees believed they could get a visa on arrival, seems extreem. Indonesia is a sovereign state. KRUD and his cronies have no weight against their legal system, as the Indonesian PM and his cronies have no weight against ours.
Whilst I agree, that on the surface a gaol sentence, given the explanation that he gaolees believed they could get a visa on arrival, seems extreem. Indonesia is a sovereign state. KRUD and his cronies have no weight against their legal system, as the Indonesian PM and his cronies have no weight against ours.
Indonesia is a sovereign state
This might have a lot more to do with the part of Indonesia in which they landed.
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True, but they did invade another one (West Papua) and are currently fighting resistance forces there.
This might have a lot more to do with the part of Indonesia in which they landed.
This might have a lot more to do with the part of Indonesia in which they landed.
I agree the response by the Indonesians is a little harsh, but it's their country after all.
Fully concur with Capt. Claret. Not really much the Federal Govt can do. Every time an Australian national f**ks up overseas, it always produces the same futile bleating about the Govt doing "something" (they never say what exactly!) to fix it. What happened to being responsible for one's own actions?!
I agree the response by the Indonesians is a little harsh, but it's their country after all.
With the pilot's years of experience in PNG, the Torres Strait and other parts of the world, I can't believe he thought he'd get away with it? Seems a very stupid decision.
The Australian Government will offer Consular assistance but they can not intervene in another country's legal system.
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The illegals who come here also want to stay here.
They are locked up here pending their appeals to stay ( I don't wish to get into the morality/ethics of this ).
Even if someone lobs into KSA with a valid tourist visa, but Customs suspects that they are trying to immigrate illegally they will deport them. Not lock them up for years (unless they try to claim refugee status).
I would be pretty sure these five weren't trying to jump the queue to emigrate to West Papua. I would also be reasonably certain that they won't be tying up the Indonesian Courts for years trying fighting an extradition order.
Maybe confiscate the aircraft, give them a hefty fine and kick them out would send a warning to others.
Three years in an Indo jail is excessive.
They are locked up here pending their appeals to stay ( I don't wish to get into the morality/ethics of this ).
Even if someone lobs into KSA with a valid tourist visa, but Customs suspects that they are trying to immigrate illegally they will deport them. Not lock them up for years (unless they try to claim refugee status).
I would be pretty sure these five weren't trying to jump the queue to emigrate to West Papua. I would also be reasonably certain that they won't be tying up the Indonesian Courts for years trying fighting an extradition order.
Maybe confiscate the aircraft, give them a hefty fine and kick them out would send a warning to others.
Three years in an Indo jail is excessive.
Max.
The offense is illegal entry. It is not illegal to want to live in another country. The motive is irrelevant.
I agree the sentence is excessive, but so also is seven years on Nauru.
I can't believe the pilot did not know the risk he was taking.
The offense is illegal entry. It is not illegal to want to live in another country. The motive is irrelevant.
I agree the sentence is excessive, but so also is seven years on Nauru.
I can't believe the pilot did not know the risk he was taking.
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When people arrive in Australia this way, we call them boat people, bang them up without trial for a few years, and then bill them for the privilege
Hardly a comparison to group of people that are visiting with the intention of leaving and contributing to the economy.
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Every time an Australian national f**ks up overseas, it always produces the same futile bleating about the Govt doing "something" (they never say what exactly!) to fix it. What happened to being responsible for one's own actions?!
The other thing that gets up my goat, along the same lines, is when there is a flood (Fiji) or anti-government protest resulting in airline disruptions (Bangkok). All the PINKOS scream for the government to send aircraft to the rescue.
GET OVER IT. Travel at your own peril. Make contingency plans in case something goes wrong. Some of these dopes must still be getting Mummy to wipe their sorry asses for them!
hat...coat....door.....................!!!!!