ID :
101405
Wed, 01/20/2010 - 17:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/101405
The shortlink copeid
SIXTEEN SRI LANKAN IMMIGRANTS LEAVE TANJUNGPINANG, INDONESIA
Tanjungpinang, Jan. 20 (ANTARA) - Sixteen Sri Lankan immigrants left the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center, Riau Islands Province, Indonesia, on Wednesday morning, for Jakarta before proceeding to Australia and the Philippines.
They flew to Jakarta escorted by Indonesian foreign ministry and Australian embassy officials in Jakarta.
"They are the last batch of a total of 78 Sri Lankan immigrants who were accommodated at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center after they had to get off the Australian vessel Oceanic Viking," Samsu Rizal, an Indonesian foreign ministry official, said here on Wednesday.
All of the Sri Lankan immigrants had met the conditions to be resettled in the third countries, he said.
"Three of them will be flown to Melbourne, Australia, and 13 others to the Philippines from Jakarta," Samsu Rizal said.
The 13 immigrants headed to the Philippines still had to complete their travel documents, he said.
"One thing is clear : they are leaving Indonesia for third countries," he said.
Previously, most Sri Lankan refugees stranded in Indonesia had been sent to Australia, the United States and Canada.
The refugees had earlier been nabbed by Australia`s customs patrol boat MV Oceanic Viking near Christmas Island, Australia. MV Oceanic Viking had later moored off Cempedak Isle, Bintan District, Riau Island Province, with the 78 refugees on board.
At the request of the Australian government, they had been moved to the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center, reportedly built with the financial assistance from Australia.
In addition to the 16 Sri Lankans, the Indonesian government also deported a Thai fisherman, who had been detained at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center for poaching in Riau Island waters.
The Tanjungpinang immigration detention center is currently accommodating 105 immigrants.
"Of the total immigrants, 61 from Afghanistan, 15 from Thailand, one from Singapore, and 28 from Sri Lankan," Sugiyo, head of the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center, said.
They flew to Jakarta escorted by Indonesian foreign ministry and Australian embassy officials in Jakarta.
"They are the last batch of a total of 78 Sri Lankan immigrants who were accommodated at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center after they had to get off the Australian vessel Oceanic Viking," Samsu Rizal, an Indonesian foreign ministry official, said here on Wednesday.
All of the Sri Lankan immigrants had met the conditions to be resettled in the third countries, he said.
"Three of them will be flown to Melbourne, Australia, and 13 others to the Philippines from Jakarta," Samsu Rizal said.
The 13 immigrants headed to the Philippines still had to complete their travel documents, he said.
"One thing is clear : they are leaving Indonesia for third countries," he said.
Previously, most Sri Lankan refugees stranded in Indonesia had been sent to Australia, the United States and Canada.
The refugees had earlier been nabbed by Australia`s customs patrol boat MV Oceanic Viking near Christmas Island, Australia. MV Oceanic Viking had later moored off Cempedak Isle, Bintan District, Riau Island Province, with the 78 refugees on board.
At the request of the Australian government, they had been moved to the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center, reportedly built with the financial assistance from Australia.
In addition to the 16 Sri Lankans, the Indonesian government also deported a Thai fisherman, who had been detained at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center for poaching in Riau Island waters.
The Tanjungpinang immigration detention center is currently accommodating 105 immigrants.
"Of the total immigrants, 61 from Afghanistan, 15 from Thailand, one from Singapore, and 28 from Sri Lankan," Sugiyo, head of the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center, said.
