ID :
66501
Fri, 06/19/2009 - 07:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/66501
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GOVERNOR: AFGHAN IMMIGRANTS NOT INVOLVED IN AL-QAEDA
Bengkulu, Sumatra Island, June 18 (ANTARA) - Bengkulu Governor Agusrin M Najamudin said the 46 Afghan immigrants currently being detained in Bengkulu were not involved in any Al-Qaeda network.
"Based on a report from the Australian police who have handled Afghan immigrants for 20 years, they have no criminal record," the governor said here on Thursday.
According to the Australian police's records, all immigrants illegally entering the neighboring country were pure political asylum seekers who had left their war-torn country to save their own lives, he said.
If they stayed in their country, their life would be threatened and they all would probably not be able to survive. If they fled Afghanistan, their chance of surviving was 50 percent, the governor said.
The 50 percent chance depended on whether their boats would reach the destination country (Australia) or sink in the sea on their way to Australia, he said.
Therefore, the Bengkulu authorities would not treat the 46 Afghan immigrants as prisoners as they were only victims of war, Governor Najamudin said.
The governor said the foreigners would soon be moved from the Bengkulu immigration office to a more appropriate place.
They were human beings, too, and therefore for humanity's sake, they would be accommodated in a more comfortable place like a Hajj Building, he said.
While waiting for the Australian government's decision on their request for asylum, the Afghans would be given jobs such as Arabic or English teachers.
"While they are in Bengkulu, we should benefit from their knowledge and skills," he said.
On the Australian police's rejection of giving asylum to the Afghan people, he said it was just the police's decision, while the Australian government was still considering the asylum request.
The 46 Afghan asylum seekers were recently on hunger strike demanding the Australian government to grant them asylum.
"Based on a report from the Australian police who have handled Afghan immigrants for 20 years, they have no criminal record," the governor said here on Thursday.
According to the Australian police's records, all immigrants illegally entering the neighboring country were pure political asylum seekers who had left their war-torn country to save their own lives, he said.
If they stayed in their country, their life would be threatened and they all would probably not be able to survive. If they fled Afghanistan, their chance of surviving was 50 percent, the governor said.
The 50 percent chance depended on whether their boats would reach the destination country (Australia) or sink in the sea on their way to Australia, he said.
Therefore, the Bengkulu authorities would not treat the 46 Afghan immigrants as prisoners as they were only victims of war, Governor Najamudin said.
The governor said the foreigners would soon be moved from the Bengkulu immigration office to a more appropriate place.
They were human beings, too, and therefore for humanity's sake, they would be accommodated in a more comfortable place like a Hajj Building, he said.
While waiting for the Australian government's decision on their request for asylum, the Afghans would be given jobs such as Arabic or English teachers.
"While they are in Bengkulu, we should benefit from their knowledge and skills," he said.
On the Australian police's rejection of giving asylum to the Afghan people, he said it was just the police's decision, while the Australian government was still considering the asylum request.
The 46 Afghan asylum seekers were recently on hunger strike demanding the Australian government to grant them asylum.
