Fed: Diplomats confident of obtaining visas for Afghanistan

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2001
Fed: Diplomats confident of obtaining visas for Afghanistan

CANBERRA, Aug 11 AAP - Australian officials were today confident of securing visas
to visit two aid workers being held by Taliban religious police in Afghanistan.

Diplomats have so far been unsuccessful in obtaining visas to see West Australians
Diana Thomas and Peter Bunch.

But the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said today it was confident
of obtaining visas after the Afghan embassy in Pakistan reopened. It was closed today.

"We have been assured we will be granted visas," a DFAT official said.

"But we are still following up with the embassy over there as to when that will happen.

"I understand that the embassy is closed today."

The aid workers were among a group of 24 refugee relief workers arrested last weekend
for allegedly spreading Christianity.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer this week remained hopeful that visas would be issued
and consular access to the two aid workers allowed.

Diplomats at Australia's nearest mission in Islamabad, Pakistan, have been working
with the embassies of Germany and the United States, whose nationals were also among those
arrested.

Australian High Commissioner Howard Brown, acting US Ambassador Michele Sison and German
charge d'affaires Overfeld Gunter met Taliban Ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef to plead for
consular access.

Official requests for visas to travel to the Afghan capital, Kabul, were made several
days ago but there has been no response, despite assurances the documents will be issued.

Afghan Muslims converting to another religion face the death penalty, as do those who
encourage them to do so.

But there have been conflicting reports from official sources in Afghanistan about
whether foreigners face the same sentence.

The federal government has not yet been able to confirm whether or not Ms Thomas and
Mr Bunch face execution if found guilty.

AAP lm/br

KEYWORD: AFGHAN AUST

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