BOAT PEOPLE TO BE MOVED FROM ACEH TO MEDAN

Banda Aceh, Dec 17 (ANTARA) - Some 195 Myanmarese and Bangladeshi boat people who were stranded in Aceh early this year are to be moved to Medan, North Sumatra.

"The boat people who have been in Sabang and Idi Reyeuk, Aceh Timur district, will be moved to Medan, North Sumatra," Aceh immigration office spokesman Bambang Widodo said here on Thursday.

He said the boat people who have been given accommodation in Weh island, Sabang district, arrived by MV Express Bahari 3B at Ulee Lheue port in Banda Aceh at 7:15 local time on Thursday morning.

Facilitated by the International Organization of Migration (IOM), the Myanmarese and Bangladeshi boat people will be transported by a number of buses from Ulee Lheue port to Medan.

"After arriving in Medan, they will be given accommodation while waiting for a further decision from the immigration directorate general about their fate," Bambang said.

He said that on the trip from Banda Aceh to Medan, the boat people would be accompanied by three immigration officials from Sabang and Banda Aceh and a number of police officials.

Bambang said the 195 Rohingya boat people from Myanmar and Bangladesh were found stranded in Aceh waters on January 7, 2009 before being rescued and accommodated at the Sabang naval base.