Indonesian Province Prepares to Tow Migrant Boat Out to Sea

The Aceh provincial authorities have said that Indonesia will escort the boat carrying 44 Australia-bound Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers back to global waters after repairs on Friday.

The province refused to let the migrants land despite Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla asking them to provide shelter.

The group had been sailing for about 20 days, fleeing what appears to be a deteriorating security situation in Sri Lanka, before the Indian-flagged boat became stranded on Saturday in Lhoknga waters, Aceh Besar regency, and was found by local fishermen. Meanwhile, the Tamils remain on the boat, with the threat of being forced back into global waters hanging over them.

“We did not allow them to land because Indonesia is not their destination and they are fit”, Aceh government spokesman Frans Delian said. “In contrast to what happened in May 2015, developments this week invite comparisons with other countries that have a notorious record of setting desperate people adrift and at risk of death on the high seas”, said Benedict.

The United Nations refugee agency today said it was “deeply concerned” by the condition of those on the boat, while rights groups urged the authorities to allow them to disembark.

The migrants have been at sea for about a month and were trying to reach the Australian territory of Christmas Island. Despite many recent improvements, there are still concerns about discriminatory practices against Tamils by law enforcement officials.

There are now more than 13,000 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the UNHCR in the archipelago, while detention centers in Indonesia are overcapacity.

‘Refugees and asylum seekers frequently travel without identity documents, as often these documents are either hard to obtain or get lost during the journey. This has no effect on these people’s right to seek asylum. “Consistent standards must be applied across the board, with all Indonesian authorities working together with recognized global bodies”, said Benedict. As they neared the coast of Aceh, bad weather struck, stranding their boat off Lhoknga. “UNHCR should be allowed to register them immediately”, he added.