Military Probes Soldiers? Alleged Role in Migrant Tragedy

Military Probes Soldiers? Alleged Role in Migrant Tragedy
Amir Tejo & Made Arya Kencana | December 22, 2011

The military is investigating allegations that three soldiers helped hundreds of asylum seekers get into a boat that later capsized off the East Java coast, an senior officer said on Thursday.

?We are now gathering information on that. We will examine the result,? said Brig. Gen. M. Setyo Sularso, who is the chief of staff of East Java?s Brawijaya Military Command.

He was commenting on media reports saying that three soldiers identified as S., K. and K.A. had helped the asylum seekers continue their journey by boat, but just where or how remain unclear.

Rescue workers have recovered at least 78 bodies since the boat, carrying around 250 asylum seekers from Middle Eastern countries, sank 74 kilometers off East Java?s Trenggalek district on Saturday.

They only found 47 survivors.

Setyo refused to speculate on possible sanctions against the three. ?We have a book on how sanctions are delivered, but we first need to know the result [of the preliminary investigation],? the general said.

Indonesian authorities have said the migrant boat was heading to Australia?s Christmas Island. Two crew members of the ill-fated boat have been detained and are being interrogated by the National Police, which has taken over the case from the East Java Police.

?People from the [National Police] HQ arrived last night. They will handle the case, while the East Java Police will only help with humanitarian measures,? said Insp. Gen. Hadiatmoko, the chief of the East Java Police.

Ronald, 24, and Rivan, 26, two crew members from Rote, East Nusa Tenggara, allegedly transported the asylum seekers. Both men were rescued from the waters off Malang, East Java, and they initially introduced themselves as fishermen.

The bodies of people who weren?t so lucky were brought to hospitals in Bali and East Java for identification.

?After the procedure is completed, we will hand the bodies to Basarnas [the National Search and Rescue Agency] because that body controls the emergency relief efforts,? Hadiatmoko said.

Some of the bodies were found in waters off the eastern coast of Bali, around 400 kilometers from the scene of the accident, a rescue worker said.

Ketut Parwa, head of the Balibranch of Basarnas, said 17 bodies were recovered in several parts of the resort island. ?From the physical appearance, we know they are from the Middle East,? he said.

Ida Bagus Putu Alit, head of forensics at the Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, said he had received the bodies of four men and two women and predicted that the figure would increase because search efforts would continue over the next few days.

?We call on fishermen and residents in coastal areas to immediately report to authorities if they find more bodies,? Ida said.

Indonesia is known as a stepping stone for migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq seeking asylum in Australia. Last month, at least 60 migrants were stranded on an island off Banten.
As of Thursday, 78 bodies had been found of passengers of a boat that sunk off the coast of East Java on Saturday. The boat was transporting around 250 Middle Eastern asylum seekers who were bound for Australia?s Christmas Island.?Reuters Photo

Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/military-probes-soldiers-alleged-role-in-migrant-tragedy/486468

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