From the Global Times, Xinhua 2012-8-1
Among the 68 Middle-eastern migrants who were evacuated to Surabaya after being stranded in Sumenep, Madura, 64 have fled from police custody on the way to an immigration detention center, local media reported on Wednesday.
"Of the 64 who fled, 38 of them escaped at around 11 p.m. local time during the journey between the Immigration Service Office (TPI), and the East Java water police unit in Surabaya located around 5 kilometers away. They have not yet been found," East Java water police spokesman Soelistyo said on Tuesday.
After they were rescued by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) and the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) off Goa-Goa Island, the migrants, comprising seven children, 19 women and 42 men, were brought to the East Java water police unit in Surabaya to undergo examination by the immigration office.
They arrived in Surabaya, Indonesia's second-largest city at 5 p.m. on Sunday after several hours traveling by boat and bus.
After being registered, they were sent to the TPI to rest before being handed over to the Immigration Detention Center in Pasuruan, East Java, the next day.
"However, they refused to stay at the TPI and asked for hotel accommodation and then insisted on returning to the water police headquarters on foot. En route, 38 of them fled into the narrow alleys despite being followed by a police escort," Soelistyo said.
"Not long after, 26 others also fled from the water police headquarters, while the remaining four preferred to stay in one of the rooms," he said as quoted by the Jakarta Post.
East Java Justice and Human Rights Office spokesman Cahyo Sejati confirmed the escape of the 64 migrants from police custody.
"We've coordinated with the police to monitor the fleeing immigrants," Cahyo said.
"However, we cannot do much about them, including capturing them by force, as they are not criminals, but refugees," he said.
( easy to understand why Australia is not keen to accomodate this lot of stroppy beggars! siK.)
wo 1 aug 2012 - 9:46