E. Nusa Tenggara Concerned Over New Australian Immigration Policy

Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Sept 10 (Antara) - An international law observer from Nusa Cendana University in East Nusa Tenggara expressed his concern over the new immigration policy of Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot. Wilhelmus Wetan Songa, the observer, said here on Tuesday that the policy could affect its bilateral relations with Indonesia including East Nusa Tenggara. Australia under new prime minister Tony Abbot plans to close down the center that has so far been used to accommodate "boat people" (illegal immigrants). Songa said the decision would put East Nusa Tenggara in trouble because the illegal immigrants especially from the Middle Eastern region would certainly use it as their final destination before crossing to Australia in their efforts to seek an asylum. The lecturer of criminal law of the university made the statement in response to the plan of the Liberal-Conservative coalition leader who recently won the Australian election to impose a harsher policy to deal with asylum seekers. In his campaign rally in the middle of August Tony Abbot among others would name a military commander to lead an operation to overcome illegal immigrants that would come in boats and human smugglers. Songa said the policy would hurt Australia`s bilateral relations with Indonesia as almost all boats that carry illegal immigrants pass through the Indonesian waters especially Rote Island and Kupang Bay which are more strategic for crossing to Australia and Timor Leste. He said cases of illegal immigrants through East Nusa Tenggara in the past three years had increased drastically and so serious attention was needed to deal with it. In 2010 there were 17 cases involving 52 immigrants. The number increased to 52 involving 172 immigrants in 2011, later to 452 people in 2012 and until February 2013 the number of illegal immigrants involved had reached 98. "Based on identification most of the illegal immigrants are from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, India, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries," Songa said. He said most of the immigrants did not carry complete documents as their intention was seeking a political asylum and a better life. He said East Nusa Tenggara had been chosen as their destination because of its location that directly borders Australia. In connection with the tendency he urged the government to immediately implement the new regulation of the Director General of Immigration IMI-1489.UM.08.05 dated on September 17, 2010 on the handling of illegal immigrants. "The implementation is the rule is aimed at preventing increase in traffic of illegal immigrants through Indonesian waters and to counter Australian accusation that Indonesian fishermen are agents of illegal immigrants." he said. Songa said Indonesian fishermen generally only knew about serving passengers and were not aware if they were legal or illegal immigrants. Due to various reasons and guarantees the fishermen had been allured and willing to carry the foreigners to their destination that finally led them to end up in a jail in Australia, he said.