Sri Lankan Immigrants Threaten To Burn Boat
Monday, 26 October, 2009 | 17:37 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Hundreds of Sri Lankan immigrants detained by Authorities at Merak Port, Banten threatened to torch down thir boat if they are not granted the permission to cross to Christmas Islands, official said on Monday.

Head of the provincial Law and Human Rights Office Poppy Pudjiaswati said “they started to become angry and threatened to burn their boat because there is no certainty on whether or not they could obtain permit to enter Australia.”

The 260 refugees, sailing in one wooden boat were intercepted by a joint operation of the Indonesian navy and police and the Australian police on Oktober 11th near the Anak Gunung Krakatau volcanic island.

They were escorted to the Merak Port in Banten Province after their failed attempts to refused the arrest, but refused to be evacuated to the ground and stay in the 30 feet wooden boat at the port.

The refugees have survived so far on food and medical assistance from the International Organisation For Migran and port authorities, while Poppy said the Law and Human Rights Department will provide the assitance if the refugees agreed to abandon their boat and move to a temporary shelter.

Head of the Health Unit of the Banten Port Erwin Hilianka most of the refugees were suffering from respiratory and skin disease for sharing a very limited space in the overcrowded boat.

Australia have made it clear last week that the refugees were of Indonesian government's concern as they were caught in Indonesian waters. The remark was made by Vice Minister Julia Gillard before the arrival of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for the inauguration of President Yudhoyono.

MABSUTI IBNU MARHAS