Srilankan Immigrants Rejected in Batam
Thursday, 05 November, 2009 | 16:02 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Batam: Riau Archipelago governor, Ismeth Abdullah, said he will still reject the 78 illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka who were transported by an Australia Custom and Excises ship, the Oceanic Viking.

The reason given for the refusal by the provincial government was that it had not been authorized by the central government to accept the Sri Lankans. Ismeth claims he must bear the burden of funding their food and water.

Ismeth has asked for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's decision concerning the immigrants’ status. The ship carrying the immigrants will be given until Friday to dock in Riau waters.

The Ocean Viking arrived in Riau on Monday. The immigrants were scheduled to be housed in a detention home in Tanjung Pinang, but they were still waiting for the central government’s approval.

RUMBADI DALLE