‘Hoodwinked’ by Indonesians, claim Sri Lankan asylum-seekers

Nearly 140 Sri Lankan asylum-seekers who ended their sit-in on a western Java dock this week claim they were hoodwinked by Indonesian authorities, who told them they would not be sent to prison.

 

 

The Merak asylum-seekers say they were “kidnapped” when they were taken to the Australian-built Tanjung Pinang immigration jail.

 

 

While up to 50 others who left their boat and made their way to Christmas Island separately managed to beat the Rudd government’s deadline for processing Sri Lankan asylum claims, those who stayed in Indonesia have been told by UN officers they will now simply have to “join the queue” for processing as refugees.

 

 

Yesterday, the government said it was not surprised by the arrival of another asylum-seeker boat -- the 112th since Kevin Rudd was elected -- arguing it would take time for asylum-seekers to be deterred by the new policy. The boat, carrying 46 passengers and two crew, was intercepted by HMAS Wollongong near Cape Leveque, 220km north of Broome.

 

 

The Merak asylum-seekers claimed UN staff had told them they should get used to the harsh conditions in the prison. “They don’t give us enough water for bathing. It;s difficult even to go to the toilet. We are in jail here,” said one, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals from guards.

 

 

“The UNHCR came this morning to start registering us but they said they will not give us any priority. But they said even joining the queue will not happen until some time next year.”

 

 

The man accused Indonesian officials, in particular the Foreign Ministry officer Sujatmiko, of lying about the conditions they would be held in. “Sujatmiko said he had spoken to the Australian government about resettlement and he told us they had definitely said they would do something about it within 12 months. But now the UNHCR has told us that´s not up to the Indonesians to decide anyway,” he said.

 

 

Both Dr. Sujatmiko and a spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Evans have denied there were any negotiations about a deal for the 140 or so people left on the Jaya Lestari at Merak.

 

 

Contacts of some of those from Merak who made it to Christmas Island have told The Australian they are relieved to have beaten the deadline but they are worried about those left behind.

 

 

A spokesperson for Senator Evans said the government did not expect the suspension of processing applications to have an immediate impact on the number of boat arrivals. The policy was introduced to further ensure that only those with genuine asylum claims were granted visas, he said.

 

 

Asked if he thought it was fair that some asylum-seekers off the Merak boat were now being processed on Christmas Island while others were not able to access the Australian system, he said the suspension did not apply to those who were in Indonesia.– (The Australian)