Boatpeople land in East Timor

DILI, East Timor: Five Vietnamese boatpeople who escaped from the Galang Island refugee processing center in Riau are now stranded in East Timor after their boat lost control in rough seas and was washed ashore.

The local navy said the five Vietnamese managed to flee Galang and bought themselves a motorized sailing ship which they had hoped would take them to Australia, Antara said.

Their boat, Kalam, however was stranded near Tutuala beach in the Lautem regency, and was towed to Dili by two passing sailing fishing ships, Trijaya and Berdikari, to the shore.

The five Vietnamese are identified as Tran Thonh Dung (43 years old), Huynh Hun Hao (25), Doan Truc Linh (24), Dang Huu Phoug (23) and Tran Trong Kim (28). They were all originally from Ho Chi Minh City before they found their way to Galang.

They fled the island, through Jakarta, and traveled overland to Pamekasan, Madura, where they bought Kalam for Rp 3.5 million ($1,590).

They are currently under the care of the International Red Cross Committee office in Dili. (emb)