ID :
65655
Sat, 06/13/2009 - 19:56
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https://www.oananews.org//node/65655
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BENGKULU POLICE NOW DETAINING 46 AFGHANS
Bengkulu, Indonesia, June 13 (ANTARA) - Bengkulu police here on Saturday again detained 12 illegal Afghan immigrants, bringing the number of such aliens taken into custody in Bengkulu to 46.
"Yesterday, we arrested 34 people and today 12 more, increasing their number in our custody to 46," Bengkulu Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Agung Setya said here on Saturday.
The latest arrest was also made at a location not far from where 34 Afghan migrants were nabbed previously, namely at Pondok Kelapa beach, Central Bengkulu District.
In the police's investigation, the Afghan people said they were war victims, and wanted to go to Australia via Bengkulu, Sumatra Island.
The illegal immigrants' coordinator identified by his initial J (an Indonesian national) said that the South Asian country's people had arrived in Bengkulu in stages.
"They were in six groups coming to Bengkulu in stages. Some of them were from Jakarta and Surabaya. They are expected to gather in Bengkulu for departure to Australia with the assistance of the local coordinator," the Bengkulu police chief said.
The 46 Afghan immigrants are currently being detained at Bengkulu police headquarters. Their case will soon be transferred to the Bengkulu immigration office. The Bengkulu police also detained the migrants' coordinator. They will be charged with violating Indonesia's Law No. 9/1991 on Immigration.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Iza (18), one of the Afghan immigrants, said they left their country three months ago.
"We have been journeying in boats for three months. We plan to go to Australia because Afghanistan is not safe," Iza said in fluent English. They said they wanted to go to Christmas Island, Australia.
"They plan to go to Christmas Island. They have bought a boat worth Rp90 million, and food for four days of sailing," Agung Setya said.
They had bought one ton of rice and three tons of fuel. "They are ready to go to Christmas Island, with the help of an Indonesian fisherman who has been named a suspect for violating the law on immigration," he said.
The Bengkulu authorities have also contacted the UNHCR which will send its staff to Bengkulu on Sunday (June 14) to deal with the migrant case.
One of the immigrants, Ahmad Wali (19) told ANTARA that he had left his war-torn country as he had lost his parents in the prolonged war.
"I don't like Osama bin Laden. My parents were killed by terrorists, while my brothers/sisters are still in Afghanistan," he said. ***
"Yesterday, we arrested 34 people and today 12 more, increasing their number in our custody to 46," Bengkulu Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Agung Setya said here on Saturday.
The latest arrest was also made at a location not far from where 34 Afghan migrants were nabbed previously, namely at Pondok Kelapa beach, Central Bengkulu District.
In the police's investigation, the Afghan people said they were war victims, and wanted to go to Australia via Bengkulu, Sumatra Island.
The illegal immigrants' coordinator identified by his initial J (an Indonesian national) said that the South Asian country's people had arrived in Bengkulu in stages.
"They were in six groups coming to Bengkulu in stages. Some of them were from Jakarta and Surabaya. They are expected to gather in Bengkulu for departure to Australia with the assistance of the local coordinator," the Bengkulu police chief said.
The 46 Afghan immigrants are currently being detained at Bengkulu police headquarters. Their case will soon be transferred to the Bengkulu immigration office. The Bengkulu police also detained the migrants' coordinator. They will be charged with violating Indonesia's Law No. 9/1991 on Immigration.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Iza (18), one of the Afghan immigrants, said they left their country three months ago.
"We have been journeying in boats for three months. We plan to go to Australia because Afghanistan is not safe," Iza said in fluent English. They said they wanted to go to Christmas Island, Australia.
"They plan to go to Christmas Island. They have bought a boat worth Rp90 million, and food for four days of sailing," Agung Setya said.
They had bought one ton of rice and three tons of fuel. "They are ready to go to Christmas Island, with the help of an Indonesian fisherman who has been named a suspect for violating the law on immigration," he said.
The Bengkulu authorities have also contacted the UNHCR which will send its staff to Bengkulu on Sunday (June 14) to deal with the migrant case.
One of the immigrants, Ahmad Wali (19) told ANTARA that he had left his war-torn country as he had lost his parents in the prolonged war.
"I don't like Osama bin Laden. My parents were killed by terrorists, while my brothers/sisters are still in Afghanistan," he said. ***
