SOME 135 ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS DETAINED IN KUPANG

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, April 12 (ANTARA) - A total of 135 illegal immigrants, caught in East Nusatenggara (NTT) over the past few months, are still staying at a local immigration detention center, an immigration official said.

The illegal immigrants, from such countries as Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar, were arrested by the police and immigration authorities here, I Gusti Ngurah Rai, head of the Kupang Immigration Detention Center, said here Monday.

The detained illegals were still waiting for a clarification process to be conducted by the UNHCR and International Organization of Migration (IOM).

The majority of the detainees were Afghans, he said, adding that they were not in possession of legal travel documents when caught.

The illegal immigrants mostly wanted to go to Australia as asylum seekers but while waiting for the UNHCR and IOM's clarification process, the police had sent them to the detention center, he said.

Among the detainees were 56 who were caught in East Flores waters last week, he said.

On mid-March, an East Nusa Tenggara water police patrol boat found 66 of 68 Afghans on Raijua Island, Sabu Raijua district , after their boat had ran out of fuel on their voyage to Australian waters.

The police said two of the Afghans escaped into the woods on the island. The police officers found that only one had a travel document while the others did not have any.

Over the past decade, Indonesia has frequently been used as a transit point by foreign asylum seekers on their way to Australia.

On March 6, the Indonesian police successfully foiled an attempt by 37 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan to sail to Australia.

A patrol boat of the Jakarta metropolitan water police directorate arrested 37 Afghans on board two boats in Kepulauan Seribu waters in Jakarta Bay on early March 6.

In their efforts to go to Australia, they pay people smugglers who then ask locals to transport them by wooden boats.

The Australian government itself has consistently categorized the people smuggling activities as a global and regional problem.

The UNHCR 2008 Global Trends report said that there were 42 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide at the end of 2008, including 15.2 million refugees.

For both passengers and crew members of the captured boats, they are transported to the Australian Immigration's detention center on Christmas Island to undergo security, identity and health checks as well as their reasons for travel established.

The Indonesian Consulate in Perth noted that there were a number of Indonesians among the captains and crew members of the boats bringing asylum seekers to Australia.