Indonesia to force end to Lankan refugee standoff
April 7, 2010 12:08 pm
The Indonesian Navy has moved to force an end to the six-month-long
standoff between migration officials and Sri Lankan asylum seekers in the
Refugee advocate Pamela Curr said the navy had shown up
along with government officials and staff from the United Nations High
Commission for Refugees.
“The Indonesians wanted to frighten them,” Ms Curr said.
The boat was headed for
Learning the boat was on the way, Mr Rudd phoned Indonesian
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and asked him to stop it in Indonesian
waters.
The Indonesian Navy apprehended the boat and took it to the
Javan
But the Sri Lankans - then numbering 254, including 31
children - refused to get off the boat, fearing they’d have to wait years for
resettlement if their refugee claims were processed in
Mr Rudd intervened after a similar scene with 78 asylum
seekers who were taken aboard the Australian-owned Oceanic Viking Customs
vessel earlier in 2009.
But the group refused to leave the Australian vessel and
enter Bintan’s detention centre, sparking a four-week standoff.
The Rudd Government finally enticed them ashore with the
promise of rapid processing and resettlement in a third country.
Another refugee advocate, Ian Rintoul, says those on board
the boat have been given five days grace before making a final decision.
“The government has withdrawn,” Mr Rintoul said.
He said the refugees retained some demands including verification from the high commission.
“There is still a bit of a standoff.”