MEDIA RELEASE
Rejected: Indonesian navy claims that Tamil asylum seekers not threatened
Friday 4 December 2009

Refugee advocates have rejected claims by the Indonesian government that its attack on the boatload of Tamil asylum seekers a Merak in West Java was a naval exercise which had been planned for months.

Sue Bolton has spoken to the refugees on the boat and she said “There is no way this was routine training.”

In the early hours of 3 December, a number of Indonesian inflatable craft carrying armed and camouflaged navy personnel threateningly approached the boat at Merak.

One of the dinghies attempted to tie up to the Merak boat and one person carrying a heavy bag attempted to board. People on board the boat untied the rope and prevented the person from boarding.

“For the Indonesian navy personnel to surround and attempt to board a boat carrying almost 250 frightened asylum seekers was a deliberate act of intimidation. If the Indonesian navy was genuine in its claims that it was involved in a naval exercise, it would not have targeted the boatload of asylum seekers.

“The asylum seekers were terrified when the Indonesian naval personnel attempted to board their boat. After months of not seeing military uniforms they were forced to live through their nightmares again.

“For Tamils in Sri Lanka, military uniforms   are associated with kidnappings, disappearances and killings.

“We are calling on the Australian government to urgently step in and guarantee the safety of the Tamil asylum seekers on the boat at Merak in Indonesia.

“These Tamil asylum seekers are Australia's responsibility. They are only in Indonesia because of Kevin Rudd's phone call to the Indonesian president to intercept the boat. They must have their asylum claims processed in Australia,” said Bolton.

 On December 5, there will be a rally and march to reject Rudd’s ‘Indonesian solution’ and call on the government to let the refugees in.

Details of the protest are:
Rally: Let the refugees into Australia
2pm, Saturday 5 December, State library

Rally participants will be invited to sign messages of support for the refugees on the boat at Merak.

Media contact :    Sue Bolton 0413 377 978

                                 Liam Ward 0407 474 313