INDONESIA: Sri Lankans go on hunger strike to prevent being sent to Indonesian detention centre

Record ID: 339269

  • Title: INDONESIA: Sri Lankans go on hunger strike to prevent being sent to Indonesian detention centre
  • Date: 17th October 2009
  • Summary: MERAK PORT, BANTEN PROVINCE, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA (OCTOBER 15, 2009) (REUTERS) INDONESIAN NAVY SHIP TO SRI LANKAN'S WOODEN BOAT VARIOUS OF SRI LANKANS ON THEIR BOAT SRI LANKAN SITTING ON A ROOF VARIOUS SRI LANKANS GATHERING ON BOAT'S DECK NAVY COMMANDER'S CAR SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) NAVY COMMANDER FOR WESTERN REGION HARI BOWO SAYING:
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA8RWNM3VSJPAJ1UCOBLE434381
  • Story Text: Over 260 Sri Lankan asylum seekers went on a hunger strike on Thursday (October 15) after refusing to be taken into a detention centre by the Indonesian authorities.
    The wooden boat carrying the asylum seekers was intercepted by Indonesian navy earlier the week near the waters off Merak Port, after the Australian government asked for assistance in stopping the illegal immigrants from heading to Australia.
    The asylum seekers rejected food offered by Indonesian and international migrant's organisation, after refusing to be taken to Indonesia's immigration detention centre.
    But food continued to arrive at the port as authorities persuaded them to take the food.
    Naval authorities say there are 263 asylum seekers with a few receiving medical treatment and food supplies, and they hope the Sri Lankans authorities will handle the situation.
    "We already gave the details of the problem to the Immigration authorities and we hope the Sri Lankans will handle the situation better," said Hari Bowo, the Navy commander for the western region.
    The Indonesian navy is now keeping the wooden boat berthed at the Merak port in Banten province, West Java after it was intercepted at the Sunda Strait.
    Indonesian authorities say they are waiting for the national immigration department to determine the status of the Sri Lankans.
    There were reports that at least four other boats full of asylum seekers were en route to Australia.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register