Chinese boat people deported

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The provincial immigration office deported 200 boat people who became stranded on Gili Air island off West Lombok yesterday.

Antara quoted Laksana of the provincial immigration office as saying yesterday that the people came from mainland China and did not have the proper documents to enter Indonesia.

Sailing on a small crowded wooden boat, the Chinese first called at Tanjung Priok in Jakarta before landing in Lombok. They said they had left China in search of a better life and intended to continue on to New Zealand.

"We will order them to leave West Nusa Tenggara immediately after we provide them with food and medicine," Laksana said, adding that most of the passengers were suffering from malnutrition.

Residents tried to assist the boat people by using sign language, and provided them with food and medicine.

"We gave them food and medicine and learned from our communications with them that some young children had died and were thrown overboard during the voyage," a local, Isappe, said.

Gili Air, and two other islets Gili Meno and Gili Terawangan are popular tourist destinations in Lombok. (01)