Fed: No sighting yet of Papuans in Torres Strait area

AAP General News (Australia)
04-06-2006
Fed: No sighting yet of Papuans in Torres Strait area

CANBERRA, April 6 AAP - A group of Papuan asylum seekers reportedly heading for Australia
still has not been sighted, Justice Minister Chris Ellison says.

He said investigations and surveillance flights were continuing in the Torres Strait area.

"As yet we can't confirm whether or not the six or seven alleged illegal entrants have
attempted to enter Australia," he told Sky News.

"We are carrying on investigations to confirm this and that's where we are at at this stage.

"The advice I have from Customs and Coastwatch is that there has been no confirmation
of the arrival of these people or their existence."

Senator Ellison said it was still a serious matter.

"Any breach of our borders is serious and the operation is ongoing," he said.

Relations between Jakarta and Canberra have been strained since the immigration department
last month granted temporary protection visas to 42 asylum seekers from Indonesia's separatist
province of Papua.

Reports emerged yesterday of another boatload of asylum seekers making their way to Australia.

AAP mb/mfh/tnf/sd

KEYWORD: PAPUA ELLISON

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