Iraqi asylum seekers handed over to UNHCR<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Kupang<\/p>\n
Police in the East Java town of Situbondo have transferred 64
\nIraqi asylum seekers to the United Nations High Commission for
\nRefugees (UNHCR) in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Police chief Sr. Comr. Untung S. Rajab told Antara on
\nWednesday that the group were part of 184 Iraqis who had been
\ndetained since last February.<\/p>\n
Untung said the batch left for Jakarta under police escort on
\nSaturday, and arrived in the capital city the day after.<\/p>\n
"Those who have been taken to Jakarta have already had
\ndecisions made on their refugee status and there are third
\ncountries ready to receive them. However, the status of the
\nremaining Iraqis in Situbondo is still unclear," he said.<\/p>\n
During their stay in Situbondo, the local administration
\naccommodated the refugees in the Bhayangkara Hotel in the Pasir
\nPutih beach area.<\/p>\n
Separately, Kupang Police in East Nusa Tenggara arrested six
\nSri Lankans on Tuesday for failing to show identity cards or
\nproper international travel documents.<\/p>\n
The provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Yacobus Jacky Uli,
\nsaid on Wednesday that the foreigners apparently intended to
\ntravel to Australia via Rote island.<\/p>\n
"They arrived in Kupang by sea aboard the KM Dobonsolo vessel
\non Monday night before intending to proceed with their attempt to
\nget to Australia," Yacobus told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Three of the Sri Lankans were identified as Silvas Sinaturan,
\nKatera Fule Pilau and Kiru Panatan, while the other three
\nremained unidentified as they had no identity documents.<\/p>\n
The Sri Lankans were also suspected of being involved in
\nillegal activities, but Yacobus refused to elaborate. They are
\nnow being held in the detention unit of the local immigration
\noffice.<\/p>\n
During questioning, the foreigners admitted to having asked
\nfor help from a local middleman, identified only as YK, a
\nTangerang, West Java resident, who guided the Sri Lankans to
\nKupang. They had been staying at a house belonging to local
\nresident, Yunus, in Kupang.<\/p>\n
Both Indonesian nationals have been arrested and are being
\ndetained by Kupang Police for questioning.<\/p>\n
East Nusa Tenggara has long been a transit point for people
\nwishing to seek asylum to Australia.<\/p>\n
One of the asylum seekers, Sinaturan, said he and his
\ncompatriots came to Kupang as tourists.<\/p>\n
Separately, a Kupang Police officer, Comr. I Nyoman Wijana,
\nsaid the Sri Lankans were trying to emulate Middle Eastern asylum
\nseekers who illegally entered Australia using Rote island as a
\nspringboard.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iraqi-asylum-seekers-handed-over-to-unhcr-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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