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)