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Indonesian police fire warning shot as stranded Sri Lankan women disembark boat
Sydney Morning Herald - June 18, 2016
An eyewitness told Fairfax Media the five women, who are among 44 Sri Lankans who claimed they were en route to Australia when they suffered engine trouble, had earlier pleaded that a child they said was sick be allowed to come to shore.
Indonesian immigration authorities have refused to allow the Sri Lankans, who are believed to be Tamils, to disembark in Indonesia because they do not have passports or travel documents.
This is despite Amnesty International and the Geutanyoe Foundation for Aceh urging the Indonesian government to allow the Sri Lankans to disembark and meet with UN refugee agency officials.
Sabang navy commander Kiki said the boat was now fixed and would be escorted out of Indonesian waters by Indonesian navy ship Teluk Cirebon. "But it's high waves now. We have to wait until weather permits," he said. "When it's OK, it will be towed out slowly through the reefs."
The international director of the Geutanyoe Foundation, Lilianne Fan, told Fairfax Media the Sri Lankans had indicated to local journalists that they had left Jaffna, the capital city of the northern province of Sri Lanka.
"If they are from Jaffna, this would indicate they could be genuine asylum seekers who are fleeing a worrying deterioration in the security situation," Ms Fan said.
"Over the last few months there has reportedly been a military crackdown in Jaffna on former Tamil Tigers. The most urgent thing right now besides their physical and mental needs is to get them unhindered access to the UNHCR and that just doesn't seem to be happening."
Fairfax Media understands the women who jumped off the boat on Thursday sat on the beach and mimed shooting themselves in the temple.
The 44 Sri Lankans claim they were en route to Australia when they had engine troubles. In chaotic scenes local police tried to cordon off the beach and persuade the remaining Sri Lankans to stay on the boat.
Aceh Besar police chief Heru Suprihasto told Fairfax Media the warning shot was to "take control of the situation".
"The warning shot... was to control the local spectators who tried to come close to the boat and the Sri Lankans," he said. "It's not up to the police to decide if the Sri Lankans get to disembark or not, it's the jurisdiction of immigration. We are just there to keep the security."
The women, who suffered mild injuries jumping on shore, later returned to the boat where they – and the sick child – were treated by Indonesian health officers.
Indonesian Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said it was important to co-ordinate with the country of origin of the boat people, although he said Indonesia was yet to discuss the issue with Sri Lanka.
"If we do not solve it with the country of origin it will keep happening and happening. It can lead to criminality in this area," Mr Ryamizard said. "It is most important that we have to respect humanity, that we have to treat them (the Sri Lankans) well, give them food, give them clothes. That is very important, that is our policy."
Amnesty International said the boat began a hazardous journey from India after those on board reportedly fled Sri Lanka. The human rights organisation said despite many recent improvements, there were still concerns about discriminatory practices against Tamils by Sri Lankan law enforcement officials.
The International Organisation for Migration has indicated it is ready to assist with services if asked to do so. Indonesia is not a signatory to the UN refugee convention and refugees cannot legally work there while waiting for resettlement in a third country.
There are 13 immigration detention centres in Indonesia, most of which are overcrowded. As of January there were 13,679 refugees and asylum seekers registered with the UNHCR in Indonesia, many of whom have been stuck in transit for years.
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