Australia and Indonesia force refugee stalemate<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will deny entry to the Norwegian
\nfreighter Tampa, which is stranded in the Indian Ocean carrying
\n438 asylum seekers after Australia turned down the ship's request
\nto enter its waters, an official said here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said the
\ngovernment's stance was clear -- that the country would refuse
\nentry to the boat for fear that the asylum seekers would cause
\ntrouble here.<\/p>\n
"The fact is that the illegal immigrants want to dock in
\nAustralia," he was quoted as saying by Antara, adding that
\nIndonesia was not obliged to direct the Norwegian vessel to dock
\nat any port in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, as a matter of fact and law, is not responsible,
\nWirayuda said after returning from a Southeast Asian trip with
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Wirayuda's comments contradicted earlier statements issued by
\nhis ministry regarding the issue.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Indonesia's foreign ministry said Jakarta
\nmight allow entry to the ship if Australia persisted in rejecting
\nthe immigrants.<\/p>\n
However, Navy spokesman First Admiral Franky Kaihatu
\nreiterated that the Navy would not allow the ship to enter
\nIndonesian waters.<\/p>\n
"Our mission is to uphold maritime laws. We reject anything
\nillegal, including illegal immigrants," Kaihatu told AFP.<\/p>\n
Australia continued to deny permission for the refugees to
\nenter the country, despite pleas from the United Nations' refugee
\nagency.<\/p>\n
Rescued on Monday from a sinking Indonesian ferry, many of the
\n438 refugees, mostly from Afghanistan, commenced a hunger strike
\nand threatened to jump overboard if Australia sent them back to
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
With diplomatic wrangling over who should take responsibility
\nfor the people already in its second day, the United Nations
\nappealed for compassion.<\/p>\n
"We appreciate this is a difficult issue of international law.
\nWe would like to urge Australia, Indonesia and Norway to work
\nthis out as soon as possible," United Nations High Commissioner
\nfor Refugees spokeswoman Millicent Mutuli was quoted by AP as
\nsaying.<\/p>\n
"We also appreciate that Australia has offered medical
\nassistance. But we would like to urge Australia to act according
\nto humanitarian principles," she added.<\/p>\n
Canberra's tough line in refusing to accept the refugees comes
\nas Prime Minister John Howard seeks re-election later this year,
\nwith many voters increasingly unhappy about the large sums of
\nmoney spent housing and caring for the thousands of asylum
\nseekers who arrive each year.<\/p>\n
Some of the asylum seekers, who include 22 women and 43
\nchildren, are sick, distressed or pregnant amid worsening
\nconditions aboard the seriously overcrowded ship, the Tampa's
\ncaptain Arne Rinnan said.<\/p>\n
Three Australian Hercules transport planes arrived on
\nChristmas Island on Tuesday carrying soldiers and supplies to be
\ntaken to the ship.<\/p>\n
But Australian authorities were still trying to find a
\nhelicopter suitable for delivering the supplies to the ship,
\nreports stated. (tso)<\/p>",
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