Iraqi asylum seekers handed over to UNHCR

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Kupang

Police in the East Java town of Situbondo have transferred 64 Iraqi asylum seekers to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jakarta.

Police chief Sr. Comr. Untung S. Rajab told Antara on Wednesday that the group were part of 184 Iraqis who had been detained since last February.

Untung said the batch left for Jakarta under police escort on Saturday, and arrived in the capital city the day after.

"Those who have been taken to Jakarta have already had decisions made on their refugee status and there are third countries ready to receive them. However, the status of the remaining Iraqis in Situbondo is still unclear," he said.

During their stay in Situbondo, the local administration accommodated the refugees in the Bhayangkara Hotel in the Pasir Putih beach area.

Separately, Kupang Police in East Nusa Tenggara arrested six Sri Lankans on Tuesday for failing to show identity cards or proper international travel documents.

The provincial police chief, Brig. Gen. Yacobus Jacky Uli, said on Wednesday that the foreigners apparently intended to travel to Australia via Rote island.

"They arrived in Kupang by sea aboard the KM Dobonsolo vessel on Monday night before intending to proceed with their attempt to get to Australia," Yacobus told The Jakarta Post.

Three of the Sri Lankans were identified as Silvas Sinaturan, Katera Fule Pilau and Kiru Panatan, while the other three remained unidentified as they had no identity documents.

The Sri Lankans were also suspected of being involved in illegal activities, but Yacobus refused to elaborate. They are now being held in the detention unit of the local immigration office.

During questioning, the foreigners admitted to having asked for help from a local middleman, identified only as YK, a Tangerang, West Java resident, who guided the Sri Lankans to Kupang. They had been staying at a house belonging to local resident, Yunus, in Kupang.

Both Indonesian nationals have been arrested and are being detained by Kupang Police for questioning.

East Nusa Tenggara has long been a transit point for people wishing to seek asylum to Australia.

One of the asylum seekers, Sinaturan, said he and his compatriots came to Kupang as tourists.

Separately, a Kupang Police officer, Comr. I Nyoman Wijana, said the Sri Lankans were trying to emulate Middle Eastern asylum seekers who illegally entered Australia using Rote island as a springboard.