Indonesian Youths reject Sri Lanka asylum seekers' arrival

KIJANG, Riau Island Province, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- More than ten youths claiming to represent Kijang young people, here on Tuesday, staged a rally rejecting the arrival of Sri Lankan asylum seekers, Indonesia's Antara news agency reported.


They carried posters with texts reading "Reject Sri Lanka immigrants. Riau Island is not an accommodation centre."


La Ode Abdul Mukmin, coordinator of the rally, said the government must turn down the Sri Lanka immigrants because Indonesia is not an accommodation centre foreign immigrants.


"They were arrested in Australian waters, so why they have to be taken to Tanjungpinang immigration detention center?," he said.


The government must think about it so that in the future Indonesia would not become a country accommodating asylum seekers, he said.


He said it was not clear whether they would later stay for good in Bintan or be returned to Sri Lanka, while people in Bintan were facing unemployment problem.


Australian customs ship Oceanic Viking carrying 78 Sri Lanka asylum seekers were still in Tembora Laut Isle waters, Kijang, with a tight guard of Indonesian warship KRI Kelabang.


The ship was expected to moor at Sri Bayintan Kijang harbour, on Tuesday but there was no confirmation so far.


In the face of criticism for Canberra's adoption of a so-called "Indonesian solution", Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd argued the settlement and processing of asylum seekers in Indonesia was aimed at preventing tragedy on the high seas.


-- BERNAMA