Batam rejects Aceh refugees

Batam rejects Aceh refugees

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

Dozens of survivors of the quake-triggered tsunami have found
they cannot even enter Batam to find their relatives. Authorities
denied them entry because they failed to meet requirements as
stated in the city's regulations.

Under Batam Bylaw No. 2/2001 on population control, any
visitor requesting to temporarily stay in the city has to produce
an identity card as well as a return ticket and a deposit.

On of the refugees, Maswir, said on Thursday that he came to
Batam after finding out that refugee camps in Medan and Banda
Aceh were not fit to live in.

"I came here because I have relatives in Batam, but it turns
out that there are just so many requirements to enter the
island," Maswir sighed. "The authorities asked many things like a
return ticket, my relatives' address, as well as deposit money."

The 34-year-old arrived in Batam with 30 other refugees from
Aceh on Wednesday, by ship from Medan. "My ticket was given to me
by people who felt sorry for me," Maswir said.

The refugees failed to show proper identification and deposit
money. Every person arriving by sea is required to deposit Rp
130,000 (US$14) per day to the authorities before being granted
entry to the city.

The refugees were sent to the Sekupang Transit House where
they had to spend the night until the next ship arrived to take
them back to where they had came from.

Head of Batam's population and civil registration office,
Buralimar, said he was aware of the refugees' arrival in the
city, ostensibly to seek help from their relatives.

According to office data, there were 35 people who were
currently staying at the transit house.

He dismissed the suggestion that such regulations were
insensitive to the plight of tsunami survivors. "There have been
people claiming to be tsunami victims but it turned out they were
just looking for jobs," he said.