Missing athletes urged to return - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Missing athletes urged to return

By Catherine Best 22/03/2006 09:41:11 PM Comments (0)

The team manager of one of two international athletes missing from the Commonwealth Games village has made a heartfelt appeal for his return.

Tanzanian boxer Omari Idd Kimweri and Bangladeshi 400-metre runner Mohammad Tawhidul Islam, both 23, disappeared from the Melbourne athletes' village on Monday.

Their teammates fear for their safety and say the disappearances are out of character, despite speculation they may plan to illegally immigrate.

Bangladesh general team manager Ishtiaq Ahmad said Islam - who is due to leave Australia on Thursday - had a family and a good job as a soldier in the army back home and would not desert his country.

"I don't think so because he's working in the army, he has a secure job, I don't think it (his disappearance) was intentional," he told AAP.

"He cannot speak English and what would you do in Australia? I say (there's) no reason why he should stay here, (it's) very unlikely."

Ahmad said Islam disappeared with minimal cash, leaving behind his passport and a plane ticket, and fears for his welfare.

"I am very much worried, I'm worried about his wellbeing, I don't know where is he.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to say that if anybody finds him or knows of his whereabouts they should help him to come back to the village. We are leaving on the 27th, his athletics team is leaving tomorrow.

"We all hope that he should come back before we leave."

Islam was last seen in the village dining hall at 6.30pm (AEDT) on Monday. He told teammates he planned to watch the men's 100 metre final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but failed to return.

His disappearance came a day after he failed to qualify for the final of the 400 metres on Sunday.

Tanzanian chef de mission Henry Ramadhani issued a statement saying Kimweri, who was last seen in bed at 7am (AEDT) on Monday, was a warmly respected and much loved member of the team.

"The disappearance is highly out of character for Omari," the statement said.

"We are all concerned for his well-being and we very much hope he returns to us safely."

Kimweri was defeated in round one of the Lightweight Fly on Saturday.

Ramadhani said the boxer was married and worked as a prison officer back home.

"Victoria Police is handling the matter and we are helping them with their inquiries," he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon said there was no indication the missing athletes were seeking political asylum.

"At this stage, having had discussions with the officials from both countries involved, it's just the way they have left behind various clothes and other sorts of possessions, it makes us concerned," she told reporters.

"One has no English and so I think these are the kinds of things we take into account when we have concerns for people's safety."

The athletes' visas will expire on April 26, Ms Nixon said.

Meanwhile, the department of immigration said it will not investigate the disappearances.

A department spokesman told ABC Radio the athletes' visas were valid for a month and it would not investigate while the men remained lawfully in Australia.

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