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