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Sri Lankans beseech visiting Rudd

The scorching sun begun hitting Merak Port in Banten, located in the northwestern tip of Java, Monday morning, when 255 Sri Lankan migrants began another uncertain day

Ika Krismantari (The Jakarta Post)
Merak, Banten
Tue, October 20, 2009

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Sri Lankans beseech visiting Rudd

T

he scorching sun begun hitting Merak Port in Banten, located in the northwestern tip of Java, Monday morning, when 255 Sri Lankan migrants began another uncertain day.

About 70 people cramped together on the boat's deck woke up, while on the other side of the boat some used bottled water to shower, brush their teeth and wash their clothes.

Karuna, 37, one of the migrants, decided to get off the boat and have his hair cut by his colleague.

"My hair has not been cut for two months now. I used to have it cut every month."

Karuna, a father of three, left his family in Sri Lanka to escape torture from the Sri Lankan government, which had accused him of having links with the Tamil rebels.

He claimed conditions in Sri Lanka were getting worse for people accused of helping the insurgency after the Sinhalese-dominated government defeated the rebels earlier this year, ending 25 years of civil war in the country. "As soon as I arrive in a certain country, I will arrange for my wife and children to join me."

Six migrants, including two children, left the boat Monday due to illness. They were taken to a nearby health post set up by the International Organization for Migration.

The incidence of illness is predictable as the Indonesian-registered boat has just one bathroom with plenty of leaks, while some parts are flooded.

Realizing the dreadful conditions, a representative of the boat people calling himself Alex, has pleaded for help from the international communities. He hoped Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd would pay attention to the case.

"Please address us, come directly here or talk to us through live media, television or radio. We know that you are facing pressures from the opposition, but we have nothing against you. Just give us a chance to get a new life," Alex said.

The Sri Lankan migrants refused to leave their boat, which was seized by the Navy on Oct. 10 drifting in the Sunda Strait while trying to sail to Australia, which has signed a UN convention to provide shelter for refugees and asylum seekers.

Alex said they feared they would be returned to Sri Lanka since Indonesia has yet to sign the UN convention on refugees, allowing it to ship back any illegal visitors regardless of their situation.

"We will face the death penalty if we return to Sri Lanka. We don't want to live in Indonesia because it already has many problems related to poverty and natural disasters."

The boat people are now waiting for officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to handle the case.

However, the commission cannot become fully involved in the matter until the Indonesian authorities declares the status of the boat people either as refugees or asylum seekers, according to immigration officials.

Indonesian officials can not declare their status or become involved further in the matter until President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has officially announced his new Cabinet line-up, putting all crucial policy decisions, including the handling of the boat people, on hold.

Indonesia has been a staging point for migrants from poorer countries to cross into Australia, which is facing an increase in refugees taking advantage of its UN convention facilities.

Rudd is slated to attend SBY's inauguration ceremony Tuesday, and hold talks to convey his gratitude for Indonesia's assistance in keeping boat people from entering Australia.

As Australia is willing to pay big for the effort, Indonesia is fast becoming Australia's front-line of defense against the refugees.

The Australian has reported there have been 66 separate interceptions resulting in the arrest of 1,642 illegal migrants bound for Australia in the past 12 months in Indonesia. The report said Australia has given Indonesia an annual budget of US$20 million to keep the migrants away from its backyard.

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