Boat people escape Batam detention

Boat people escape Batam detention

BATAM, Riau: Seven of the 77 Afghan boat people accommodated
in the Batam immigration detention center since May 2 have
escaped, an official confirmed on Friday.

The head of the Batam Immigration Office, Mardjono, said that
the seven persons had disappeared from the detention center some
days ago. "They may still be in Batam or living on islets in
Riau."

"We are collaborating with the local police in seeking them,"
he said.

Mardjono said that the fate of the remaining 70 Afghan boat
people stranded in Batam was uncertain. "The United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has yet to decide on their
status."

Batam is one of the centers used for detaining Afghan boat
people who have been dreaming of a better life in Australia. The
other centers are Medan (North Sumatra), Jakarta, Bogor (West
Java) Cilacap (Central Java), Denpasar (Bali), Mataram (West Nusa
Tenggara), and Kupang (East Nusa Tenggara). --ANtara