Boat people used private boat

Boat people used private boat

DILI, East Timor: A local official has denied reports that
the 18 East Timorese who sought refuge in Australia last week
traveled to the neighboring country on a boat owned by the
government.

Provincial fishery office chief Joao CRP Freitas said that the
people used their own fishing boat -- not, as reported by some
media, a craft provided by the government under an assistance
program.

"If it is true that the boat people used a boat with the
number '035', that means the boat was painted to look like one
from the government," Freitas said. He added that not one of the
18 boat people were fishermen.

Foreign ministry Director of Information Irawan Abidin said
the reports on the asylum bid were a media ploy intended to
embarrass Jakarta just before the commencement, last Friday, of
the All Inclusive East Timor Dialog in Austria. Irawan noted
that, while the boat people claimed to be victims of torture,
Australian authorities had said they were in good health. (anr)