Boat people return to Lombok

LOMBOK, West Nusa Tenggara: Seventy Indochinese boat people expelled from Lombok last week returned to the island Monday evening for engine repairs, officials said yesterday.

The people, who left Gili Air island for New Zealand after refueling over the weekend, anchored in Lembar port at about 6 p.m. Monday, spokesman for the port authorities Lt. Col. Darwinsyah said.

The travelers are 55 adults and 15 children. They have requested more time to repair their 16.5-meter-long and eight- meter-wide boat.

Darwinsyah said the refugees had also had trouble with the bad weather and rough seas.

"We will not allow them to stay in Lombok for too much longer. We will expel them again once their engine is repaired," Antara quoted him as saying. (pan)