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Immigrants threaten suicide, refuse relocation
As many as 55 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and Egypt, currently being placed in custody on Sabu Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), are threatening to commit suicide if the police continue to force them to move to Kupang
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s many as 55 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan and Egypt, currently being placed in custody on Sabu Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), are threatening to commit suicide if the police
continue to force them to move to Kupang.
The illegal immigrants were saved by local fishermen when their boat was hit by a storm.
Acting Sabu Raijua Regent Thobias Uly said Monday the illegal immigrants, most of whom were men, attempted suicide by banging their heads on the wall, hitting their heads with hard objects and leaping in front of passing vehicles.
“They are reckless. Security personnel should work hard to prevent them from their suicidal acts,” said Thobias, who acknowledged he did not know what to do.
He said the foreign citizens refused to leave Sabu Island, but when asked what their reasons were, none could give an answer.
“They only said they did not want to be moved from Sabu Island to another place, including to Kupang.”
They were stranded at the Menia Beach in West Sabu district in Sabu Raijua regency on Jan. 13, after their boat was hit by huge waves. They had intended to seek refuge in Australia.
“During their stay on Sabu Island, they were treated well, despite being accommodated in makeshift shelters. The International Organization for Migration is also dealing with the issue,” Thobias said.
NTT Police spokesman Comr. Okto G. Riwu said the illegal immigrants had refused to be relocated and demanded their status be recognized as international refugees.
“Police only wish to uphold the law because the immigrants had entered Indonesia illegally. They will be processed according to regulations because they did not have the official documents.”
The NTT Police, he added, would coordinate with the Egyptian and Afghan embassies in order to immediately relocate the 55 immigrants.
Last year, the authorities were able to foil an attempt to smuggle around 500 immigrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and other countries to Australia through NTT.
Most of the human smuggling cases were foiled when the boats carrying the refugees faced accidents.
