'Patience running out' over asylum seekers

4 Nov 2009, 3:19 pm   -   Source: AAP/SBS
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A group of 78 Tamil asylum seekers are refusing to leave the Oceanic Viking ship and go to Indonesia (AAP)

A group of 78 Tamil asylum seekers are refusing to leave the Oceanic Viking ship and go to Indonesia (AAP)

Indonesia has warned "there is a limit" to its patience over the Oceanic Viking asylum
seeker impasse, more than two weeks since the standoff began.

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Indonesia has warned "there is a limit" to its patience over the Oceanic Viking asylum
seeker impasse, more than two weeks since the standoff began.

A group of 78 Tamil asylum seekers are still refusing to leave the Australian customs ship, which has been moored off the Indonesian island of Bintan for the past 10 days.

Australian officials are working to persuade the asylum seekers - rescued from Indonesia's search and rescue zone - to voluntarily leave the ship and enter detention in Tanjung Pinang, Bintan's main town.

But an Indonesian deadline means the Oceanic Viking may be forced to leave the area on Friday, unless Indonesia grants a second extension.

A high-level meeting between Australian and Indonesian officials in Jakarta on Tuesday failed to come up with a solution to the impasse, Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said.

"On that particular issue it really depends very much on the progress Australia can make," he said. "You must resolve your own problems on board the vessel."

Indonesia remained flexible and patient, he said before adding: "But there is a limit."

Hopes for 'peaceful transfer'

Australia has not yet asked for another extension, Faizasyah said.

"We are very much hoping that we can find resolution prior to the deadline. The sixth of November is our expectation for this to be resolved."

Officials did make progress on how to deal with future asylum seeker vessels, he said but declined to give details, saying negotiations were "delicate".

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said Australian and Indonesian authorities were having "productive discussions" about the stalemate.

"We want to ensure that we realise the agreement reached between the two countries and we want to do it in a way that is patient, dignified and orderly," he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.

"There are issues and sticking points on the vessel itself... and we want to deal with this in a way that will result in the peaceful transfer of these passengers onto Indonesian soil."

Mr O'Connor admitted the situation was "getting difficult" for those on board the boat, but said they were being treated well.

"There has been a change of crew, all passengers on board are being well fed, well looked after and there's plenty of amenities for them," he said.

 

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