Asia-Pacific

52 illegal migrants arrested in Indonesia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-02-21 14:33

JAKARTA - Indonesian police had foiled the attempt of 52 illegal immigrants from the Middle East to reach Australia in waters of Bali, a paper reported here Monday.

The immigrants were arrested on Saturday night in Kubu waters of Karangasem district of Bali, Director of the Bali Water Police Agus Doeta Supranggono was quoted by the Jakarta Post as saying.

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Fifty of them were from Afghanistan and two from Iran. There were two women and several children under the age of five, according to the police.

Indonesian water has been a favorable way for those illegal migrants from the Middle East, Afghanistan and other Asian countries.

The immigrants have often passed through the dangerous ocean with small boats, which are often hit by huge wave, leaving them stranded in Indonesia's territory.

Indonesia and Australia have cooperated in preventing people smuggling as part of a defense treaty, known as the Lombok Treaty which was signed in 2006.

Indonesian police have also frequently aborted the effort of the illegal migrants from entering Australia as the illegal immigrants have preferred to make Indonesia as their transit point.

Last year dozens of asylum seekers were killed after their boat was hit by waves in Australia's territory, leading the country to ease policy on asylum.