http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/11/2009111454943966698.html
Saturday, November 14, 2009
08:58 Mecca time, 05:58 GMT
Refugee standoff in Indonesia eases
Some 56 Sri Lanka asylum seekers still refuse to leave the
Australian customs ship [AFP]
A group of Sri Lankan asylum seekers have agreed to leave an Australian
custom's ship and go to a detention centre in Indonesia, partially easing a
standoff which began last month.
The 22 men were among a total of 78 ethnic Tamils on the Oceanic Viking
anchored off Bintan island near Singapore.
The men left by ferry for an immigration detention at Tanjung Pinang,
local police intelligence chief Zainal Arifin said.
However, the majority of those who remain still refuse to leave the
Australian ship that plucked them from the sea in Indonesia's search-and-rescue
zone last month.
The asylum seekers, who have already had their refugee claims accepted by
the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, have been assured of rapid
resettlement, Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said.
Asked if resettlement would be in Australia, Faizasyah said: "I believe
so." He added that the Oceanic Viking had been granted permission to stay in
Indonesian waters for another week with the remaining asylum seekers on board.
Australian reply
Australian media had reported an agreement had been reached for the
refugees to leave the ship in return for resettlement in Australia within four
to six weeks.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans earlier told Sky News said he thought
his country would accept the refugees.
"I would expect us to be taking the larger proportion of the group. We're
hopeful some will start to come off soon. I don't expect them all to come off
at once but we will hopefully see some movement in the next day or so."
The standoff has caused a political headache for Australian Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd, who has been under pressure over increasing arrivals that
have seen more than 1,600 boat people this year seeking asylum from countries
such as Afghanistan and Sri Lanka.
Indonesia has expressed annoyance at talk in Australia of an "Indonesia
Solution" to the crisis that would see Australia pay its northern neighbour to
temporarily host more Australia-bound asylum seekers.
Indonesia, which sprawls across 17,000 islands to Australia's north, has
been a key staging point for migrants being taken by people smugglers on the
perilous sea journey to Australia.
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