Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JAKARTA5484
2006-05-01 11:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Jakarta
Cable title:
BURMESE REFUGEES PUT GOI IN TOUGH SPOT
how-toVZCZCXRO9638 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM DE RUEHJA #5484 1211112 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 011112Z MAY 06 FM AMEMBASSY JAKARTA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3523 INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 9375 RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 3184 RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON 0783 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 7337 RHHMUNA/USCINCPAC HONOLULU HI RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0424
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 005484
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR EAP/IET AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV KJUS CVIS ID BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE REFUGEES PUT GOI IN TOUGH SPOT
Classified By: Political Officer Lissa McAtee, reason 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L JAKARTA 005484
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR EAP/IET AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV KJUS CVIS ID BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE REFUGEES PUT GOI IN TOUGH SPOT
Classified By: Political Officer Lissa McAtee, reason 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) A boatload of 77 Burmese men landed April 25 on an
island off the coast of Aceh on their way to Malaysia. The
Indonesian Navy found the Burmese after a storm blew their
boat off course. The government of Indonesian (GOI) is in a
tight spot as they weigh the political sensitivities in
deciding what to do with the refugees.
2. (C) A source at the United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) (protect) told us that they sent an official
to the island of Sabang to determine the aspiration of the 77
Burmese refugees. Language barriers (the 77 are ethnic
Rohingyas) made it difficult for UNHCR to conduct thorough
interviews but they ascertained that the refugees wish to
continue to Malaysia and probably left Burma for largely
economic reasons. UNHCR said that the GOI would prefer to
allow the Burmese to continue in their boats to Malaysia but
should the refugees befall an ill fate en route, it would be
an embarrassment for the Indonesians.
3. (C) UNHCR suggested to us that a Burmese refugee would
have a strong asylum claim given the on-going human rights
abuses in Burma but they cannot process asylum claims for
refugees that do not request it. UNHCR quietly approached
the Indonesian government on April 28 for their concurrence
to send an UNCHR team to interview the 77 Burmese as possible
asylum cases. UNHCR expects the Indonesian government to
provide an answer by May 2. Our contact was sensitive to
Indonesia's desire to handle the case discreetly rather than
be seen by the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) as commenting on the human rights condition in Burma.
(Note: Although our UNHCR contact did not mention Papua, we
note that given the GOI's vehement objection to Australia's
decision to grant temporary visa's to Papuan asylum seekers,
it is likely another reason the GOI will be hesitant to be
seen as promoting asylum for the Burmese. End Note).
4. (SBU) The 77 are unlikely to depart in the near future
because the Indonesian Navy cannot immediately provide fuel
and the seas are currently high and rough. Meanwhile, the
Indonesian Navy has housed the Burmese in a warehouse and the
local Red Cross is providing clothing, food and medical care
as needed.
PASCOE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SECSTATE FOR EAP/IET AND DRL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/01/2016
TAGS: PREF PHUM PGOV KJUS CVIS ID BM
SUBJECT: BURMESE REFUGEES PUT GOI IN TOUGH SPOT
Classified By: Political Officer Lissa McAtee, reason 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (SBU) A boatload of 77 Burmese men landed April 25 on an
island off the coast of Aceh on their way to Malaysia. The
Indonesian Navy found the Burmese after a storm blew their
boat off course. The government of Indonesian (GOI) is in a
tight spot as they weigh the political sensitivities in
deciding what to do with the refugees.
2. (C) A source at the United Nations High Commission for
Refugees (UNHCR) (protect) told us that they sent an official
to the island of Sabang to determine the aspiration of the 77
Burmese refugees. Language barriers (the 77 are ethnic
Rohingyas) made it difficult for UNHCR to conduct thorough
interviews but they ascertained that the refugees wish to
continue to Malaysia and probably left Burma for largely
economic reasons. UNHCR said that the GOI would prefer to
allow the Burmese to continue in their boats to Malaysia but
should the refugees befall an ill fate en route, it would be
an embarrassment for the Indonesians.
3. (C) UNHCR suggested to us that a Burmese refugee would
have a strong asylum claim given the on-going human rights
abuses in Burma but they cannot process asylum claims for
refugees that do not request it. UNHCR quietly approached
the Indonesian government on April 28 for their concurrence
to send an UNCHR team to interview the 77 Burmese as possible
asylum cases. UNHCR expects the Indonesian government to
provide an answer by May 2. Our contact was sensitive to
Indonesia's desire to handle the case discreetly rather than
be seen by the Association of South East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) as commenting on the human rights condition in Burma.
(Note: Although our UNHCR contact did not mention Papua, we
note that given the GOI's vehement objection to Australia's
decision to grant temporary visa's to Papuan asylum seekers,
it is likely another reason the GOI will be hesitant to be
seen as promoting asylum for the Burmese. End Note).
4. (SBU) The 77 are unlikely to depart in the near future
because the Indonesian Navy cannot immediately provide fuel
and the seas are currently high and rough. Meanwhile, the
Indonesian Navy has housed the Burmese in a warehouse and the
local Red Cross is providing clothing, food and medical care
as needed.
PASCOE