Hanura Urges Government To Be Stern In Dealing With Australia

Jakarta, Jan 7 (Antara) - The Indonesian government should adopt a stern outlook in dealing with Australia`s extreme immigration policy, urged Susaningtyas Nefo, a legislator from Hanura (People`s Conscience) Party. "The Indonesian government should take a stern stance while dealing with this issue. There should be no ambivalence or hesitation while taking stringent actions," Susaningtyas, a member of the Commission I of the House of Representatives, stated here on Tuesday, in response to the recent action taken by the Australian Navy, which forced illegal immigrants from Africa and the Middle East to turn back to Indonesia. She categorically stated that Australia did not show any respect towards Indonesia`s laws. The Australian Navy`s behavior is questionable and can have a negative impact on the bilateral relations between two countries. The two countries` foreign ministers should meet in order to address the problem, she added. The lawmaker pointed out that if the Indonesian government does not respond firmly, there will be an influx of illegal immigrants, who will then have to be accommodated in Indonesia, she remarked. The Indonesian police recently emphasized that the Australian navy has driven out illegal immigrants from Africa and the Middle East to the Indonesian waters. The boat had 45 people onboard, which included nine women and 36 men. They comprised nine from Sudan, two from Eritrea, 28 from Somalia, one from Ghana, three from Egypt, one from Yemen, and one from Lebanon. They were entering the sea territory of Australia recently, when they were forcibly made to turn towards the Indonesian waters, stated Rote Ndao Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Hidayat. Finally, the Rote Ndao police rescued the refugees stranded on an Indonesian island. They are now in police detention in Rote Ndao, Hidayat added. Quoting the leader of the people on board the boat, Hidayat claimed that the Australian navy provided the illegal immigrants with life buoys and communication equipment before driving them towards the Indonesian waters. Head of the Kupang Immigration office Silvester Sililaba noted that the people will be accommodated at the former immigration office building as the Kupang Immigration detention house is already overcrowded.