18 fishermen stranded in Kupang after deported from Australia

The Jakarta Post

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (Antara) : A total of 18 fishermen from Papua and Southeast Sulawesi provinces are still stranded in Kupang after they were deported from Australia for illegally entering Australian waters.

The fishermen Tuesday came to the office of the East Nusa Tenggara Social Agency to seek help.

"We do not have any money to return home. Therefore, we come here," Rusmansyah, one of the deportees, said in the disaster post of the East Nusa Tenggara Social Agency.

They were deported from Australia on Sunday. The Australian government seized their boats and other belongings. They were deported after finishing their jail terms.

Head of East Nusa tenggara Social Agency Fransiskus Salem said that his office allocated funds to help fishermen, who were deported from Australia. He said his office had so far help some 3,000 fishermen, mostly from Sulawesi and Papua islands.