SRI LANKAN IMMIGRANTS GIVEN THREE MONTHS TO STAY

Tanjungpinang, Nov 14 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has given 22 Sri Lankan immigrants three months at the most to stay at an immigration detention center in Riau, Vice Foreign Minister Triyono Wibowo said here on Saturday.

"The Sri Lankan immigrants are allowed to remain at the center for between four, six weeks and 12 weeks," he said after meeting with representatives of the law and human rights office and Riau Island provincial administration.

A total of 56 immigrants from Sri Lanka meanwhile are now still staying aboard the Australian ship "Oceanic Viking" that dropped anchor in Cempedak Island waters, off the Sumatra coast.

"Australia is still trying to persuade them to stay in Indonesia," he said.

He said the Indonesian government had given a tolerance to show its concern over the problem, adding that after the deadline was reached the immigrants must leave the country.

The Australian government had pledged to receive them. Immigrants who had refugee documents would stay in Australia after being held at the immigration detention center in Riau Island, he said.

"The documents will be arranged by the UNHCR. The Australian government had promised to accept them," he said.

He said Indonesia did not have the obligation to take care of the illegal immigrants. He said the government had been forced to intervene just because of the arrivals of illegal immigrants in several regions in the country.

"Actually the problem should have been dealt with jointly by the governments of their country of origin, of the transit country and the country of destination. They must not leave it to the Indonesian and Australian governments only," he said.

Various parties had expressed concern that the case of the Indonesian government helping Australia in dealing with the Sri Lankan immigrants would recur in the future.

Triyono however gave the assurance that the government's decision to help the Australian government in dealing with the problem would not open an access for the immigrants to stay in Indonesia.

"Indonesia is not a place for illegal immigrants," he said.

The Indonesian military headquarters and the foreign ministry had extended the permit for the Oceanic Viking to drop anchor in Cempedak Island waters.

The permit for the ship to drop anchor at Cempedak Islan waters was first given on October 26, 2009 and then it was extended for a week until November 6 and it was extended again until November 13.

"We don't know whether the Indonesian government will extend it again," he said.

Triyono however said that the government would give a deadline with regard to the handling of the immigrants.

"The Indonesian government will not let the illegal immigrants stay in the country without a time limit," he said.

He said the government's decision to allow the ship to drop anchor in Cempedak Island waters was based solely upon humanitarian considerations. Indonesia did not get any benefit from the Australian government in connection with it.

"It is not true that Indonesia gets a benefit from the problem. On the contrary, Indonesia is not happy dealing with illegal immigrants," he said.*