UN: Boat which capsized off Indonesia was carrying up to 100 asylum-seekers

2011-11-06 09:24:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations (UN) on Saturday said a boat which capsized off the coast of Indonesia on Tuesday was carrying up to 100 asylum-seekers who were trying to reach Australia.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesperson Andrej Mahecic called on the international community to cooperate more closely to deal with irregular migration after the incident, which left at least nine people killed.

According to Mahecic, there were an estimated 60 to 100 people aboard the overloaded vessel, which sank in bad weather and rough seas off the coast of western Java. Indonesian naval forces have rescued 47 people so far, but an unknown number remains missing.

"The incident underlines once again the desperate steps that people are willing to take in their search for protection or a better future," said Mahecic. The boat was bound for the Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Timur and then Australia, and the passengers included Iranian, Afghan and Pakistani nationals.

Mahecic continued by underlining the urgency of UNHCR's calls to the international community to cooperate more closely in addressing irregular migration and providing protection and solutions to refugees, thus "averting the need for individuals to undertake such perilous journeys by boat."

Last Sunday, authorities arrested eleven Afghan and Turkish illegal immigrants traveling in a vehicle in Ponorogo, East Java. Ponorogo police chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Yudha Gustawan said they were also suspected of trying to reach Australia, but they were arrested since they lacked proper immigration documents.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-11-06

why couldn't indonesia susilo bambang take more refugees while aussie ozee turned into zionism state long ago?

or Obamma takes close look to indonesia all the time and makes susilo no chance for humanitarian efforts?