Ambon, Maluku (ANTARA News) - Six men from Cambodia who failed to show their official papers to the Ambon authorities in Maluku had been detained over the weekend, Ambon immigration office spokesman Enang Supriyadi said on Tuesday.

"The six Cambodians are being held along with a Thai at the immigration detention house at Paso village, Baguala sub-district, in Ambon city," Enang said.

He said they were nabbed at Nusantara Fish Port in Tantui on Saturday, December 17, 2011.

According to him, the Cambodians had been in Ambon for several weeks since they were dismissed by a Tual-based fishing company in Southeast Maluku district.

"They have been asked to give themselves up but they were afraid to do so and asked for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to help them surrender to Ambon immigration office," Enang said.

He said before they gave themselves up, they contacted their relatives in Cambodia and said they were in Ambon and wanted to return to their country of origin.

Then their relatives contacted Cambodian Embassy in Jakarta to facilitate their return to their country, Enang said.

With a good cooperation between Cambodian Embassy in Jakarta and IOM, the International Organization for Migration finally facilitated the six Cambodian to surrender to Ambon immigration office.

"With the assistance from IOM, we hope the six Cambodians will return to their country some time in the near future," Enang said.(*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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