Indonesia Sets Time Limits for Refugee Detentions

Geoff Thompson reports for ABC News:

Indonesia says the 22 Sri Lankans now in detention in Tanjung Pinang, must be resettled within a month if they have already been recognised as refugees by the UNHCR.

Some of the 56 still on board say they remain determined not to leave the Australian Customs ship they have been on for a month.

Twenty had originally agreed to come ashore yesterday, but four changed their minds before another six agreed to the expedited resettlement deal offered by Australia.

Just as the 22 Sri Lankan men were coaxed off the Oceanic Viking yesterday, notes were being thrown into the sea in which some of the remaining 56 said they were still terrified of returning to detention in Indonesia.

But that is where the men went last night, through the doors of an Australian-funded centre in Tanjung Pinang. They had little to say to the waiting press.

Indonesia’s director of diplomatic security, Dr Sujatmiko, said a key part of the deal was Australia’s written promise to resettle those already recognised as refugees within a month. Click here for the rest of the story.

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