TNI backs government policy on illegal migrants<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) says it fully
\nsupports the government policy rejecting a Norwegian freighter
\ncarrying 438 asylum seekers, mostly Afghans, and will prevent the
\nship from entering Indonesian waters.<\/p>\n
TNI spokesman Rear Air Marshall Graito Usodo said on Thursday
\nthat the TNI uses government policy as the basis for its actions,
\n\"and since the government has decided to reject the freighter,
\nthe TNI will do everything that is necessary to uphold the
\ndecision\".<\/p>\n
\"But we will follow international rules of engagement in
\npreventing any kind of ships from entering Indonesian waters.
\nTherefore, we will take preventative measures according to the
\nregulations,\" Graito told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The Norwegian ship Tampa tried to enter Australian territorial
\nwaters on Monday, but received the same treatment, with the
\ncountry also refusing to accept them.<\/p>\n
Currently, the ship is floating in international waters off
\nAustralia's remote Christmas Island, located between Indonesia
\nand Australia.<\/p>\n
Graito said that, currently, the TNI has yet to initiate an
\noperation to prevent the ship from entering Indonesian waters and
\nhad only monitored the freighter's whereabouts.<\/p>\n
\"Since we underlined the TNI policy in support of the
\ngovernment policy, from what we know, the ship is still in
\ninternational waters and we will not start the operation,\" he
\nremarked.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government decided to reject the freighter,
\nsaying that the refugees would only add to the government's
\nproblems, already burdened by a large number of illegal migrants.<\/p>\n
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary
\nRobinson called on Australia to admit the refugees, saying that
\nthe country bore \"primary responsibility\" for their fate.<\/p>\n
\"The convention provides that they should be accepted at the
\nnearest port and I think the issue is a very serious one. At
\nleast their situation should be assessed,\" she said, as quoted by
\nAssociated Press.<\/p>\n
\"They should be admitted, they should be treated in an
\nappropriate human-rights way.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia also has responsibility but I believe Australia has
\nthe primary responsibility at the moment,\" she added.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister John Howard briefed U.N.
\nSecretary-General Kofi Annan on the stalemate developing over the
\nasylum seekers, saying that it would be much better if the UN
\nwere properly involved in such matters.<\/p>\n
\"The more that the United Nations is properly involved then
\nthe more appropriate it is,\" he said as quoted by Dow Jones.<\/p>\n
He reiterated that he expects to speak with Indonesian
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri after a cabinet meeting later on
\nThursday to further discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda also
\ncalled on the international organization to deal with the
\nproblem, saying that it was impossible for Indonesia to accept
\nthe refugees.<\/p>\n
\"We do not have the facilities or funds to deal with them, so
\nwe need international cooperation to deal with the matter,\" he
\nsaid after the Cabinet meeting, adding that he would have a
\ndiscussion with his Australian counterpart regarding the issue.<\/p>\n
\"Our stance will not change and I will have further
\ndiscussions with the Australian foreign minister over the issue,\"
\nhe remarked.<\/p>\n
Hassan also said the government would tighten controls to
\nrestrict people from entering the country, in cooperation with
\nneighboring countries.<\/p>\n
\"Malaysia also has a similar problem to us. Many illegal
\nimmigrants enter the country with fake passports and visas, so we
\nneed to make more of an effort to monitor the organized human
\ntrafficking,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We are also considering establishing some detention centers
\nfor the illegal migrants so that we can deal with the issue
\nproperly,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Separately, Immigration Office public relations officer Ade E.
\nDahlan, said there were no plans to admit the refugees and place
\nthem in the immigration quarantine house on Lombok island.
\n(dja\/06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-backs-government-policy-on-illegal-migrants-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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