Oceanic Viking given another week

ArticleData Array ( [Article] => Array ( [article_id] => 1126397 [headline] => Oceanic Viking given another week [abstract] => Indonesia has given Australia another week to resolve the Oceanic Viking asylum-seeker impasse. [keywords] => boat, Indonesia, Bintan, Tamil, asylum seekers, Oceanic Viking, ship, [content] =>

Indonesia has given Australia another week to resolve the Oceanic Viking asylum-seeker impasse.

Senior Indonesian diplomatic sources say the country's Department of Foreign Affairs and military have both cleared the Australian customs vessel to stay in Indonesia until November 13.

Australia now has more time to persuade 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to leave the ship and enter an Indonesian detention centre.

Australia has been trying for almost two weeks to convince the ethnic Tamils to voluntarily leave the Oceanic Viking and enter the Tanjung Pinang Detention Centre on the Indonesian island of Bintan.

They have refused, adamant they want to be taken to Australia even though the ship rescued them in international waters within Indonesia's rescue zone.

'No hope' of breaking deadlock

AAP understands the extension will be announced after Indonesia's Department of Transport gives the all clear, which is not expected to be a problem.

Diplomatic and security clearance for the ship to remain in Indonesia had been due to expire at midnight on Friday but Indonesia has agreed to give officials another week to persuade the Sri Lankans to leave the boat.

The extension comes despite the views of Indonesia's most senior diplomatic official in Tanjung Pinang, Sujatmiko, who said on Thursday there was no hope of breaking the deadlock and the vessel should return to Australia.

In a written message thrown overboard on Thursday, the asylum seekers again made it clear they have no intention of coming ashore in Indonesia.

"We want to resettle to Australia, they told us we must go to Indonesia, but we are not ready to go back to Indonesia," they said.

"This is our final decision. If Australian try to force back to Indonesia, we are going close our life in the ocean."

 

[start_date] => 06 November 2009 | 02:37:01 PM [comments_allowed] => 1 [source] => AAP/SBS [commentCount] => 3 [video] => [image] => Array ( [caption] => Asylum seekers have refused to leave the Oceanic Viking, insisting they do not want to return to Indonesia (AAP) [useRegularImage] => 1 [media_library_id] => 130182 [site_id] => 1 [media_library_group_id] => 0 [media_usage_id] => 0 [filename] => site_1_rand_631496519_asylum_srilanka_091101_b_aap.jpg [title] => asylum_srilanka_091101_B_aap_631496519 [description] => file:site_1_rand_631496519_asylum_srilanka_091101_b_aap.jpg [type] => [height] => 338 [width] => 450 [source] => [video_hi] => [video_lo] => [section] => [display_order] => 0 [create_date] => 2009-11-01 09:34:24 [active] => 1 [media_usage] => Article Large [usageWidth] => 300 [usageHeight] => 225 ) [imagePath] => http://media.sbs.com.au/news/upload_media/ [audio] => [reporter] => [relatedLinks] => Array ( [3] => Array ( [id] => 531 [label] => Your say: Are you happy with the treatment of asylum seekers? [link] => http://www.sbs.com.au/news/yoursayarticle/1110671/Are-you-happy-with-the-government-s-treatment-of-asylum-seekers
[display_order] => 0 [type] => Manual ) [2] => Array ( [id] => 1125516 [label] => Decision day for Oceanic Viking deadline [display_order] => 0 [type] => Article ) [1] => Array ( [id] => 1125491 [label] => Tamils being properly processed: PM [display_order] => 0 [type] => Article ) [0] => Array ( [id] => 1124866 [label] => 'Patience running out' over asylum seekers [display_order] => 0 [type] => Article ) ) [relatedArticles] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [article_id] => 1124866 [headline] => 'Patience running out' over asylum seekers [abstract] =>

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.

[content] =>

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.

 

[content_type_id] => 3 [site_name] => World News Australia [articledate] => 4 November 2009 [articletime] => 4 November 2009 [display_order] => 0 ) [1] => Array ( [article_id] => 1125491 [headline] => Tamils being properly processed: PM [abstract] => Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is refusing to countenance transferring 78 Tamil asylum seekers on board the Oceanic Viking to Christmas Island, insisting they are being "properly processed" in Indonesia. [content] =>

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is refusing to countenance transferring 78 Tamil asylum seekers on board the Oceanic Viking to Christmas Island, insisting they are being "properly processed" in Indonesia.

The Australian customs vessel has been anchored off the Indonesian island of Bintan for 11 days, and the Indonesian government says there is "a limit" to how long it can remain there.

But Mr Rudd says everything is proceeding as planned and he won't discuss the possibility of the Tamils eventually being sent to Christmas Island.

These individuals are being properly processed in using the IOM (International Organisation for Migration) and the UNHCR officials who are currently in Indonesia," he told ABC Radio on Thursday.

"That is how it's going to continue into the future until these matters are properly dealt with."

Mr Rudd said there was "legitimate and understandable debate" concerning the Oceanic Viking and denied the standoff proved the government's so-called Indonesian solution was a failure.

Labor was being criticised from the far right and those on the left, he said.

[content_type_id] => 3 [site_name] => World News Australia [articledate] => 5 November 2009 [articletime] => 5 November 2009 [display_order] => 0 ) [2] => Array ( [article_id] => 1125516 [headline] => Decision day for Oceanic Viking deadline [abstract] => Indonesia will decide whether to give Australia more time to persuade 78 asylum seekers to leave a customs vessel and enter an Indonesian detention centre. [content] =>

Indonesia will decide on Friday whether to give Australia more time to persuade 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to leave an Australian customs vessel and enter an Indonesian detention centre.

Australia has been trying for almost two weeks to convince the ethnic Tamils to voluntarily leave the Oceanic Viking and enter the Tanjung Pinang Detention Centre on the Indonesian island of Bintan.

They have steadfastly refused, adamant they want to be taken to Australia.

Security clearance for the vessel to remain in Indonesia expires on Friday night and it is not yet known whether Indonesia will grant another extension.

One senior Indonesian official, Sujatmiko, said on Thursday there was no hope of breaking the deadlock and the vessel should return to Australia.

But other senior officials have indicated an extension will be granted, meaning the stand-off is likely to drag into a third week.

In a written message thrown overboard on Thursday, the asylum seekers said customs officials were trying to "push" them back to Indonesia.

"They are giving little bit of food every day and they are not allowed to shower," the message said.

"They are using bad word against us.

"These giving more painful to our heart."

The Tamils made it clear they do not intend to come ashore in Indonesia.

"We want to resettle to Australia, they told us we must go to Indonesia, but we are not ready to go back to Indonesia.

"This is our final decision.

"If Australian try to force back to Indonesia, we are going close our life in the ocean."

[content_type_id] => 3 [site_name] => World News Australia [articledate] => 5 November 2009 [articletime] => 5 November 2009 [display_order] => 0 ) ) [comments] => Array ( [0] => Array ( [articles_ugc_id] => 43102 [author] => Ron Hatton [source] => Bogangar NSW [content] => Prime minister Rudd and his government's willingness to be dictated to by foringners such as thoes now occupoying the Australian Customs vessel is indicative of weak leadership. I believe it is fair comment to say that the Australian people will send a clear message at the next ellection to the Rudd Government, and any future Federal Government, that they the Australian people will not tollorate weak leadership when it comes to our nation's boarders and security. [user_headline] => Mr [comment_date] => 09 Nov 2009 19:08 AEST [agree] => 0 [disagree] => 0 ) [1] => Array ( [articles_ugc_id] => 42466 [author] => Derek Davenport [source] => Darwin [content] => Question: What is the difference between the gang of illegals who have hijacked the 'Oceanic Viking' and the Somali pirates operating off the East Coast of Africa? Answer: Nothing! They are all criminals. [user_headline] => Asylum Seekers [comment_date] => 07 Nov 2009 21:15 AEST [agree] => 2 [disagree] => 0 ) [2] => Array ( [articles_ugc_id] => 42242 [author] => Des McA [source] => Cremorne Pt [content] => Lots of "we demand" and "we will not accept" statements from the people who are occupying Australia's customs vessel. I wonder if Rudd will just give them what they want and show Australia as a weak as water place that is a soft touch. All to be followed up with a tough talking meaningless press conference of course. Onya Rudd. [user_headline] => Australians all let us cave in [comment_date] => 06 Nov 2009 19:45 AEST [agree] => 5 [disagree] => 0 ) ) ) [winston] => test )