An Australian-Burmese activist, who was among 81 other Burmese nationals who demonstrated in front of the South Korean embassy on April 18, 2006, was deported last night to Australia.

Held at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport holding centre before being placed on a Malaysian Airlines flight to Australia, he was one of three demonstrators who were arrested for violating immigration regulations.

The other two remain at the Sungai Buloh Remand Centre and are expected to be charged soon by the immigration authorities.

The other 79 demonstrators, who were earlier remanded at the Pudu police station in Kuala Lumpur for 10 days, have been released.

Simultaneous protest

This was revealed by National Human Rights Society secretary-general Elizabeth Wong who met them yesterday.

They were protesting against South Korean company Daewoo International's plans for gas exploration and exploitation off the coast of Arakan in Burma.

The demonstration was part of a simultaneous protest organised in 20 countries against Daewoo's investment - projected to become the largest source of revenue for the Burmese military junta yet.

The activists claimed that the project will bring about human rights violations, environmental degradation, and further entrench the Burmese military regime, which has been accused of gross human rights violations.