INDONESIA: Stranded Sri Lankans become tourist draw for Indonesians in West Java as good samaritans provide food for the asylum seekers

Record ID: 348474

  • Title: INDONESIA: Stranded Sri Lankans become tourist draw for Indonesians in West Java as good samaritans provide food for the asylum seekers
  • Date: 25th October 2009
  • Summary: TRUCK FROM RESTAURANT AT PORT VOLUNTEERS HELP SRI LANKANS WITH FOOD FROM RESTAURANT VARIOUS VOLUNTEERS AND SRI LANKANS LOADING FOOD ONBOARD BOAT
  • Embargoed: 9th November 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Indonesia
  • Country: Indonesia
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA16FQVJVI9RRLZDCRLWVT1ICU7
  • Story Text: A group of Australian-bound Sri Lankans stranded in an Indonesian port in West Java have now become a tourist draw for locals who spend their evenings gawking at the boat and talking to the asylum seekers who are unsure of their future.
    The Indonesian government allowed the wooden boat carrying the Sri Lankans to berth directly at the port on Thursday (Oct 22) on humanitarian grounds. An Indonesian naval vessel had earlier blocked them from directly docking at the Merak port.
    The Sri Lankans were detained two weeks ago on Oct 10 near the volcanic island of Krakatoa at the Sunda strait after the Australian government requested Indonesia prevent them from reaching Australian waters.
    Since then, the boatload of Sri Lankans have been stranded in Indonesian waters, drawing the interest of the international press and local residents.
    Some local residents have spent the past few evenings at the port wharves to watch the Sri Lankans.
    Others talk to them in English or Bahasa Indonesia, which some of the Sri Lankans have picked up in the past few weeks.
    University student Santha and her friends chatted with them on Friday (Oct 23) and exchanged pleasantries. She said they understood Bahasa Indonesia and also spoke to her in English about their plight.
    "I don't agree that they should be here. I pity them. Why should they be held," Santha said.
    Other residents also expressed concern for the asylum seekers.
    "I pity them as they are cramped in a boat without much shelter. There is so many of them in the boat," said housewife Nur.
    A local restaurant sent food supplies to the Sri Lankans as volunteers helped load the supplies to the boat.
    Children from nearby houses also went to the port to look at those their age play in the boat.
    Jakarta is still seeking a solution to their plight after Canberra pressed them to ensure no one gets to enter Australia.
    Local authorities met Sri Lankan representatives this week and agreed to allow the asylum seekers to remain at the port until international organisations involved in the asylum discussions meet with the Sri Lankans.
    The Sri Lankans said they would cooperate with the authorities after earlier threatening to burn the boat if their asylum demands are not met.
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