Asylum Seekers Stranded in Sukabumi, Rejected by Australia

Sukabumi, W Java (Antara) - Tens of illegal immigrants from the Middle Eastern region have been stranded in Sukabumi after being rejected and returned by Australia to the immigration detention center in Cisarua, Bogor, West Java. "Indeed around 40 illegal immigrants have been stranded in Jaringao in the village of Gunungbatu, Ciracap, within a conservation area" resort head Dulman Effendi informed newsmen here on Wednesday. He stated that the incident took place on January 16 and, according to the information, the local community security guards found them. He added that the asylum seekers had actually arrived at the island during Christmas, but were then rejected by Australia and sent back to Indonesia and were finally stranded at Ciracap. They returned to Indonesia or Sukabumi on an orange lifeboat that belonged to Australia. The boat has now been confiscated by the Indonesian navy as evidence. The asylum seekers later returned to Bogor, West Java, by public transport. "All the asylum seekers were adult males," he noted. (*)