Police Move 13 Iraqi Foreigners Stranded In Rote Ndao to Kupang

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - 13 foreign nationals from Iraq who were stranded in the waters of Indonesia's southern island, Rote Ndao, were transferred by the police to Kupang on Saturday, December 17.

"They will arrive in Kupang on Saturday, December 17 afternoon at around 12.00 WITA or 13.00 WITA", the Head of Security at the Kupang Immigration Detention Center (Rudenim), Melsy Fanggi, said in Kupang as quoted by Antara.

She said this was related to the development of several asylum seekers from Iraq who were stranded in the waters of Rote Ndao Island, after being refused entry to Australian territory.

Melsy explained that several Iraqi foreigners left for Kupang using the Ferry escorted by several Rote Ndao police personnel.

"So there were seven Rote Ndao police personnel and representatives from the Rote Ndao Regional Government who accompanied their transfer from Rote to Kupang", she said.

She explained that when the Iraqi foreigners arrived in Kupang, they would immediately be taken to the Kupang Immigration Office for further examination.

"After leaving the Kupang Immigration Office, they will be taken directly to the Rudenim for further processing", she said.

Based on the chronology told by the crew members, it is known that on Saturday, December 10 last week the three crew members from Papela Rote Village met three crew members from Sulawesi who were carrying immigrants and handed over the boat and the immigrants to the crew members from Papela.

After handing over the immigrants on Sunday December 11 they left for Australia by accompanying the immigrants.

On Tuesday, December 12 morning, the boat they were traveling on was arrested by the Australian waters police on Ahsmore Island, or what is known as Pulau Pasir by Indonesian fishermen.

After being arrested, the immigrants were transferred to an Australian-owned ship called Rushani to rest, because the ship used to cross national borders had been secured and burned by Australian Customs.

Then on Tuesday, December 12 at around 22.00 WITA, the crew members from Papela along with the immigrants were dispatched by the Australian authorities to return to Indonesian waters.