A group of 44 Tamil asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, consisting of 20 men, 15 women — one of whom is pregnant — and nine children, have become stranded in Aceh in an attempt to reach Australia.
The group had been sailing for about 20 days, fleeing what appears to be a deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka, before the Indian-flagged boat became stranded on Saturday in Lhoknga waters, Aceh Besar regency, and was found by local fishermen.
Local authorities assisted the asylum seekers by repairing their broken motor and providing them with food and fuel. The group then departed from Lhoknga on Sunday, only to return the next day asking for more fuel to continue their journey.
Aceh immigration authorities, however, did not allow them to land as they did not have passports or other relevant travel documents. Consequently, they remained on the boat, anchored 2 kilometers offshore, refusing to set sail unless they were provided with more assistance. [dmr]