Makassar immigration sends 45 Iraqi refugees to Bogor

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): As many as 45 Iraqis, from a total of 143 foreign refugees being held at the Makassar Immigration Office since May 16 for illegal entry into the country, were on Saturday shipped to Bogor, assisted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Makassar Immigration Office head Doddy M said that the 45 Iraqis, including four women and ten children, would be transported by KM Ciremai at 3 p.m. local time.

"The refugees are guarded by four of the Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officers on the ship," said Doddy.

As many as 143 refugees from Iraq and Afghanistan were arrested by Makassar authorities when the KM Lembelu transporting them docked at the Makassar port on May 16.

They said they wanted to proceed to Australia via Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, to seek better lives.

Most of them had no passports or other official documentation. Indonesian authorities suspected that they may be illegal workers being smuggled by an international syndicate.

According to Doddy, if IOM and the United Nations agreed to help them leave, the Indonesian authorities would release all the refugees. "We are now holding the remaining refugees at the quarantine center close to the Soekarno-Hatta airport in Makassar."

The Iraqis were reportedly notorious for their bad attitude in the quarantine center. Following the removal, the Afghans accused the Makassar Immigration Office of discrimination.

"We have been behaving well in the quarantine. But why were the troublesome Iraqis freed?" one Afghan refugee said.

Doddy said it was the IOM which made the decisions, adding that he had no idea what the Iraqis would do after they reached Bogor.

"Maybe they will be flown to Australia. It's the IOM's business," he said. (27/sur)