Indonesia hopes Australian stance cuts asylum seeker numbers

Last Updated: Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:25:00 +1000

The Indonesian ambassador to Australia says he hopes Canberra's immigration policy change will cut the number of asylum seekers that make their way through Indonesia.

The Australian government is suspending the processing of all new applications for protection by people from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.

Ambassador Primo Alui Joelianto is hopeful the policy will work - but says if it doesn't, Indonesia will be affected.

"If they still decide to flee from their country and the government of Australia cannot accept any more it means they have to transit and unfortunately the place is Indonesia," he said.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Indonesia's foreign ministry, Teuku Faizasyah, says the tough new policy is a clear message to people smugglers.

Mr Faizasyah says Australia has put alot of thought and discussion into the decision.

He refused to speculate on how the hundreds of Afghan and Sri Lankan migrants in Indonesian detention centres seeking to enter Australia would react to the news.

New arrivals

Two more boats carrying suspected asylum seekers are on their way to Christmas Island after they were intercepted by Australian authorities.

The latest boat was discovered near the Ashmore Islands carrying 30 passengers and four crew.

Another boat carrying 27 people was detected off the Kimberley coast.

110 illegal entry boats have entered Australian waters since Australia's government softened its immigration policy in August 2008.

Australia's minister for home affairs says if the passengers on board are Sri Lankan or Afghan nationals, their claims will not be considered in line with the new policy that was announced on Friday.

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