119 immigrants escape

119 immigrants escape

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: At least 119 of the 251 Middle
Eastern immigrants being held at a temporary quarantine center
have escaped, according to police.

Provincial police spokesman Adj. Comr. Tri Budi Pangastuti
said that police had found it difficult to stop them from
escaping.

"They were determined to escape the quarantine center. They
used many tactics to be allowed to go outside the facility,"
Pangastuti was quoted by Antara as saying.

A certain group had arranged the illegal immigrants' escape
from the province, she said, adding that all exit gates had been
guarded.

"They allegedly used wooden boats prepared by the group to
sail for Australia," she said.

Most of the illegal immigrants were Iraqis, while some were
Afghans.