ID :
95854
Sat, 12/19/2009 - 20:04
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/95854
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FIFTEEN SRI LANKANS IN RIAU TO BE DEPORTED TO CANADA
Tanjungpinang, Dec 19 (ANTARA) - Fifteen of 78 Sri Lanka immigrants who have been staying at the Riau immigration detention center for the past four weeks are to be deported to Canada, a foreign ministry official said.
The fifteen Sri Lankans would be transferred to Canada at the initiative of the Australian government which had previously sent them to Indonesia aboard the ship "Oceanic Viking."
Sujatmiko, the foreign ministry's director of diplomatic security, said here Saturday, the fifteen Sri Lankans were an extended family consisting of children, adult women and men.
They were part of the 78 Sri Lankans detained in the Oceanic Viking before they were transferred to the Riau immigration detention center in Tanjungpinang.
The Australian government had earlier promised them permission to stay in Australia if they had papers confirming their refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Under an agreement between the Australian and Indonesian governments, the 78 Sri Lankkans would stay at the Riau immigration detention center for a maximum of 12 weeks.
Sujatmiko said all the 78 Sri Lankans would eventually be deported because Indonesia could not accommodate them indefinitely.
He said the 78 Sri Lankans were allowed to stay on Indonesian territory for some time because Indonesia wanted to help Australia overcome the problem they posed after they were caught trying to reach Australian shores in rickety boats.
"But this will be the last time, we are helping Australia deal with its foreign refugee influx problem," Sujatmiko said.*** 1 ***
The fifteen Sri Lankans would be transferred to Canada at the initiative of the Australian government which had previously sent them to Indonesia aboard the ship "Oceanic Viking."
Sujatmiko, the foreign ministry's director of diplomatic security, said here Saturday, the fifteen Sri Lankans were an extended family consisting of children, adult women and men.
They were part of the 78 Sri Lankans detained in the Oceanic Viking before they were transferred to the Riau immigration detention center in Tanjungpinang.
The Australian government had earlier promised them permission to stay in Australia if they had papers confirming their refugee status from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Under an agreement between the Australian and Indonesian governments, the 78 Sri Lankkans would stay at the Riau immigration detention center for a maximum of 12 weeks.
Sujatmiko said all the 78 Sri Lankans would eventually be deported because Indonesia could not accommodate them indefinitely.
He said the 78 Sri Lankans were allowed to stay on Indonesian territory for some time because Indonesia wanted to help Australia overcome the problem they posed after they were caught trying to reach Australian shores in rickety boats.
"But this will be the last time, we are helping Australia deal with its foreign refugee influx problem," Sujatmiko said.*** 1 ***
