Australia sends 16 asylum seekers back to Indonesia

Fishing boat stranded off Christmas Island

KUPANG: Sixteen asylum seekers have come ashore in Indonesia after their boat was turned back from Australia, police said yesterday, prompting fresh concerns from Jakarta over Canberra’s tough immigration policies.

An Australian navy boat had reportedly been spotted last week towing an Indonesian fishing vessel away from the Australian territory of Christmas Island.

Australia denies resettlement to political refugees arriving on boats and turns vessels back when it is safe to do so, despite criticism of the hardline policy.

Thirteen migrants from India, two from Nepal and one Bangladeshi came ashore on Thursday night in Tablolong, on Timor island in eastern Indonesia. The ship’s captain was also detained, local police spokesman Jules Abraham Abas said.

Indonesian news agency Antara quoted a resident as saying the people were rescued from their boat after running out of fuel off the coast and locals heard their cries for help.

Australia’s hardline approach has caused particular tensions with Indonesia, the transit point for many would-be refugees en route to Australia. The news of another boat turn-back prompted fresh worries. “We are concerned when some countries like Australia — rather than informing us or working with us — take unilateral action and push back boats,” Hasan Kleib, a senior Indonesian foreign ministry official told reporters in Jakarta.

“Talk to us, call our law enforcement on what to do with this, rather than just shifting the burden, shifting the responsibility back to Indonesia,” Mr Kleib said.

The Australian government has refused to confirm or comment on the latest incident.

Mr Kleib said it would not hurt relations between Indonesia and Australia.

The latest turn-back came as a meeting on the issue of asylum seekers was being held in Jakarta, attended by representatives from several countries, including Australia. A Bangladeshi immigrant, Muhammad Anwar, 22, told reporters on Timor island that the group had been heading for Australia but were turned back by the Australian navy when they reached Christmas Island.

“We spent four days in Christmas Island, but were told to turn back to Indonesia by Australian security officials, because the Australian government refuses to accept illegal immigrants,” he said.

He added that the migrants had each paid US$5,000 (180,000 baht) for their journey.

The boat captain said Australian officials destroyed their boat and then put them on another vessel.