ID :
86680
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 11:42
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/86680
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SRI LANKA REFUGEES REFUSE TO BUDGE FROM AUSTRALIAN SHIP
Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands Province, Oct. 28 (ANTARA) - Some 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers on board the Australian vessel "Oceanic Viking" have refused to be moved to Riau Islands` immigration detention center in Tanjungpinang, an Indonesian diplomat said.
"The Sri Lanka immigrants insist on going to Australia instead," Sujatmiko, the foreign ministry`s diplomatic security director, said here on Wednesday.
The asylum seekers consisting of 68 men, five women and five children, had been detained by Australian customs ship Oceanic Viking, around 240 miles from Padang in waters near Enggano Island.
The Oceanic Viking was only allowed to moor off Cempedak Isle, Bintan District, near Tanjungpinang town.
The Indonesian diplomat got confirmation about the asylum seekers` refusal directly from them when he met them on the Oceanic Viking ship on Tuesday (Oct. 27).
He said Indonesia could not force them to move to the Riau Islands` immigration detention center because it would violate international law.
They had also initially rejected health check-up by an Indonesian medical r team but they finally gave up after being persuaded by members of the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry`s team.
The Indonesian government supplies the Sri Lankans with food while they are on Cempedak Isle waters and two Indonesian Navy warships are guarding them.
"Today the Oceanic Viking ship is still in waters around 12 miles off the Bintan District coast," he said.
The Indonesian government had allowed to the Oceanic Viking to moor near Cempedak Isle as the ship was too big to moor at Kijang harbor. The permission wwould expire next Friday.
The Indonesian government was willing to accept the Sri Lankan asylum seekers because of humanitarian reasons and in order to keep good relations with Australia.
He denied a report saying that Indonesia had received US$50 million as compensation for accepting the Sri Lankan immigrants.
Most of Sri Lankan and Afghanistan immigrants transiting in Indonesia on their way to Australia were coordinated by international syndicates, he said.
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"The Sri Lanka immigrants insist on going to Australia instead," Sujatmiko, the foreign ministry`s diplomatic security director, said here on Wednesday.
The asylum seekers consisting of 68 men, five women and five children, had been detained by Australian customs ship Oceanic Viking, around 240 miles from Padang in waters near Enggano Island.
The Oceanic Viking was only allowed to moor off Cempedak Isle, Bintan District, near Tanjungpinang town.
The Indonesian diplomat got confirmation about the asylum seekers` refusal directly from them when he met them on the Oceanic Viking ship on Tuesday (Oct. 27).
He said Indonesia could not force them to move to the Riau Islands` immigration detention center because it would violate international law.
They had also initially rejected health check-up by an Indonesian medical r team but they finally gave up after being persuaded by members of the Indonesian foreign affairs ministry`s team.
The Indonesian government supplies the Sri Lankans with food while they are on Cempedak Isle waters and two Indonesian Navy warships are guarding them.
"Today the Oceanic Viking ship is still in waters around 12 miles off the Bintan District coast," he said.
The Indonesian government had allowed to the Oceanic Viking to moor near Cempedak Isle as the ship was too big to moor at Kijang harbor. The permission wwould expire next Friday.
The Indonesian government was willing to accept the Sri Lankan asylum seekers because of humanitarian reasons and in order to keep good relations with Australia.
He denied a report saying that Indonesia had received US$50 million as compensation for accepting the Sri Lankan immigrants.
Most of Sri Lankan and Afghanistan immigrants transiting in Indonesia on their way to Australia were coordinated by international syndicates, he said.
***4***
