ID :
64327
Fri, 06/05/2009 - 15:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/64327
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SRI LANKAN BOAT PEOPLE REFUSE TO BE REPATRIATED
Banda Aceh, June 5 (ANTARA) - Sri Lankan boat people who got stranded in Nagan Raya waters, Aceh province, on May 14, 2009, said on Friday they did not wish to be repatriated because they feared the risks to their safety.
"I don't want to go home. I prefer staying here," Rajs, one of the boat people said in Meulaboh, where 55 Sri Lankan boat people are being accommodated, on Friday.
Rajs made the statement when they were met by a representative of the Sri Lankan embassy in Indonesia, Kapila Ubeysekira, who was accompanied by a group of Indonesian officials from the foreign ministry, in Meulaboh, West Aceh district.
During the dialog, most of the Sri Lankan boat people shed tears and asked Sri Lankan officials to allow them to stay in Aceh and not to return them to their country.
Rajs and friends said they preferred staying in Aceh rather than returning to their country because they felt safer staying in Aceh than living in Sri Lanka. After all the people and police in Aceh treated them respectfully.
"We are lucky to have run aground in Aceh because people here are treating us well," Rajs said.
Actually, Indonesia is facing a dilemma in handling foreigners who became boat people due to problems in their countries, according to Awani Irewati, researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) .
"On the one hand, Indonesia is required to respect and uphold international human rights regarding boat people while on the other, it is feared it would disturb its diplomatic relations with the countries of origin of the refugees," Irewati.
She made the remarks in response to a statement made by Rafendi Djamin, coordinator of Indonesia's NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy, who said that Indonesia was undecided in handling the problem of Rohingya boat people.***5***
"I don't want to go home. I prefer staying here," Rajs, one of the boat people said in Meulaboh, where 55 Sri Lankan boat people are being accommodated, on Friday.
Rajs made the statement when they were met by a representative of the Sri Lankan embassy in Indonesia, Kapila Ubeysekira, who was accompanied by a group of Indonesian officials from the foreign ministry, in Meulaboh, West Aceh district.
During the dialog, most of the Sri Lankan boat people shed tears and asked Sri Lankan officials to allow them to stay in Aceh and not to return them to their country.
Rajs and friends said they preferred staying in Aceh rather than returning to their country because they felt safer staying in Aceh than living in Sri Lanka. After all the people and police in Aceh treated them respectfully.
"We are lucky to have run aground in Aceh because people here are treating us well," Rajs said.
Actually, Indonesia is facing a dilemma in handling foreigners who became boat people due to problems in their countries, according to Awani Irewati, researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) .
"On the one hand, Indonesia is required to respect and uphold international human rights regarding boat people while on the other, it is feared it would disturb its diplomatic relations with the countries of origin of the refugees," Irewati.
She made the remarks in response to a statement made by Rafendi Djamin, coordinator of Indonesia's NGO Coalition for International Human Rights Advocacy, who said that Indonesia was undecided in handling the problem of Rohingya boat people.***5***
