Asylum Seekers off Aceh to Be Assessed

Jakarta, 17 Ramadan 1437/22 June 2016 (MINA) – Sri Lankan asylum seekers who became stranded in waters off Aceh more than a week ago during a failed attempt to get to Australia by boat will now have their status as refugees assessed, Indonesian authorities say.

The 43 Sri Lankans, including a pregnant woman, have been in limbo since their boat was caught up in bad weather off Lhoknga, Aceh, on June 11.

After days of threatening to tow the boat back into international waters, the stand-off appears to be ending with Indonesian authorities indicating they will now co-ordinate with the Organisation for Migration and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to investigate their status.

If they are deemed to be refugees, they will be provided temporary shelter within the country, Indonesian immigration directorate general spokesman Heru Santoso Ananta Yudha said on Tuesday.

If however they are not, they will be sent back to India or Sri Lanka with the help of the relevant embassies.

“The Sri Lankan and Indian embassies have not responded yet,” he added.

The UNHCR representative in Indonesia Thomas Vargas told AAP they had yet to receive official confirmation that they could assess the status of the asylum seekers.

“We have certainly been on standby and ready to assist the government in any way,” he added.

The decision comes after days of increasing tension between Aceh officials and those on board the boat.

Initially local authorities fixed their boat, provided them with food and fuel, and then sent them on their way.

But within hours the boat was back, with the Sri Lankans refusing to leave.

Warning shots were fired on Thursday when six women jumped off the beached boat and tried to make it to shore.

Since Friday the group has been staying in tents on the beach.
Actions invited comparisons?

Amid this stand-off human rights groups were becoming increasingly vocal, describing the Indonesian government’s handling of the situation as “distressing”, “gratuitous” and “intimidating”.

Amnesty International said Jakarta’s actions “invited comparisons” between Indonesia and “other countries” with a record of sending asylum seekers back to sea.

Australia’s policy of turning back boats has come under criticism from the UNHCR, which says its approach in the region has created a “bottleneck” and placed more pressure on countries like Indonesia.

Mr Vargas said the UNHCR’s position globally on the issue of boat turnbacks was “very clear” and that boats in distress should be able to disembark at a port of safety.

More than 13,000 refugees and asylum seekers are registered with the UNHCR in the archipelago and detention centres in Indonesia are overflowing.

Indonesian authorities initially stated there were 44 Sri Lankans aboard the boat but on Tuesday they revised that number to 43.

IOM spokesman Paul Dillon confirmed that they have been invited to assist the men, women and children.

“You could say that Mother Nature has forced the issue as it is impossible for this group to safely remain aboard the vessel which is now aground, high on the beach,” he said in a statement.

“IOM Medical psycho-social staff are rendering aid where it is needed and conducting assessments about what their needs are.”

Negotiations with authorities regarding the next steps in the process are continuing, he added. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)