Boat people accused of crimes

Boat people accused of crimes

DILI, East Timor: The Navy has accused 35 East Timorese who
attempted to flee to Australia of trying to hijack a boat to take
them.

"The seizure and threat conducted by the boat people against
the boat's captain and crew are crimes in the eyes of the law,"
Antara reported Dili Navy Operations Officer Capt. Sujono as
saying on Sunday.

Dili police last week arrested 35 East Timorese, including
nine women and four children, who attempted to sail to Australia
in a wooden fishing boat.

Police Chief Col. Andreas Sugianto said the 35 originally
asked the boat's captain to go to Kisar Island, 35 kilometers (21
miles) north of the eastern tip of Timor, but at sea forced him
to change course.

Due to the captain's resistance and bad weather, the boat was
then stranded on a Viqueque beach, about 280 kilometers east of
Dili, where they were arrested.

Sugianto said on Thursday that the 35 people "were motivated
by work opportunities in Australia." (swe)