Asylum seeker spokesman ‘Alex’ disappears

The spokesman for more than 240 Sri Lankan asylum seekers locked in a long-running stand-off with the Indonesian government has disappeared. Sanjeev “Alex� Kuhendrarajah appears to have fled the asylum seekers’ rickety cargo boat, which has been moored in Merak, in Java’s west, for four and a half months.

“Alex not stay here anymore,� one of the asylum seekers told AAP on Monday but did not elaborate.

A navy source, who did not want to be named, said he believed Alex had run away.

Local police said they had not taken Alex into custody and did not know his whereabouts.

Intercepted by Indonesiaat Australia’s request in October, the Tamils say they will only come ashore if they are guaranteed rapid resettlement in a third country.

AAP