ID :
39444
Thu, 01/08/2009 - 00:27
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/39444
The shortlink copeid
SOME 192 FOREIGNERS STRANDED IN INDONESIAN WATERS
Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Jan 7 (ANTARA) - Some 192 foreigners found stranded in Indonesian waters had been given accommodation at the Sabang naval base on Weh Island, Sumatra on Wednesday at 9 a.m.
"For the time being they are being accommodated at the naval base and constantly under our monitoring. We have reported the case to Jakarta and now we are waiting for directives," the commander of the naval base, Col. Yanuwar said here on Wednesday evening.
He said they had been isolated at a health quarantine in the naval base compound for a medical examination.
He said, according to initial questioning some of the people said they came from Bangladesh while others from Myanmar.
Their identities could be verified because they had no single document. "We found them aboard a non-motorized boat floating in the waters," he said.
"We do not know either if they are refugees or not. What is clear is we have difficulties communicating with them because they all cannot speak English," he said.
Yanuwar said most of the people claimed they were Muslim. He said 45 of the stranded people have been treated at Sabang general hospital while 36 others at the navy hospital.
"They are mostly suffering from dyhidration and hunger after floating for 28 days in the sea. Before being stranded in the Indonesian waters they have been in Thailand for two days. They said their destination was Malaysia," he said.
Yanuwar said at first the naval base received information from a naval radar unit who had spotted a board floating around 3.5 miles from the Rondo island.
The Rondo island is one of the country's outermost islands located in the most western part of the Aceh province.
"Upon the information we then sent patrol boat KAL Pulau Simelue there," he said.
KAL Pulau Simelue then drove the boat with its passengers on board who are all men aged between 30 and 50 years old to the base.
"For the time being they are being accommodated at the naval base and constantly under our monitoring. We have reported the case to Jakarta and now we are waiting for directives," the commander of the naval base, Col. Yanuwar said here on Wednesday evening.
He said they had been isolated at a health quarantine in the naval base compound for a medical examination.
He said, according to initial questioning some of the people said they came from Bangladesh while others from Myanmar.
Their identities could be verified because they had no single document. "We found them aboard a non-motorized boat floating in the waters," he said.
"We do not know either if they are refugees or not. What is clear is we have difficulties communicating with them because they all cannot speak English," he said.
Yanuwar said most of the people claimed they were Muslim. He said 45 of the stranded people have been treated at Sabang general hospital while 36 others at the navy hospital.
"They are mostly suffering from dyhidration and hunger after floating for 28 days in the sea. Before being stranded in the Indonesian waters they have been in Thailand for two days. They said their destination was Malaysia," he said.
Yanuwar said at first the naval base received information from a naval radar unit who had spotted a board floating around 3.5 miles from the Rondo island.
The Rondo island is one of the country's outermost islands located in the most western part of the Aceh province.
"Upon the information we then sent patrol boat KAL Pulau Simelue there," he said.
KAL Pulau Simelue then drove the boat with its passengers on board who are all men aged between 30 and 50 years old to the base.
