Iraqi, Iranian immigrants apply for political asylum

Some 61 immigrants from Iraq and Iran arrested by the Indonesian police on February 15 while trying to slip into Australia were trying to seek political asylum in Britain, Australia and the United States.

The Indonesian news agency, which reported the news on Wednesday, quoted a police officer as saying that the Iraqi and Iranian embassies in Jakarta did not recognize the illegal immigrants as their nationals.

"They (the immigrants) were seeking political asylum, but the Iraqi and Iranian embassies in Jakarta did not recognize them as their citizens," said Captain Pol Franky Otanu of the police intelligence directorate.

In an interview with Antara, Captain Franky said 42 Iraqi and 19 Iranian immigrants were seeking political asylum in other countries.

"They are actually trying to avoid prosecution in Indonesia. We arrest them on charges of illegal entry into Indonesian territory in their attempt to slip into Australia," he said.

After they realized that they are liable to six months in jail for illegal entry into Indonesia they felt cornered and decided to apply for political asylum to other countries, Captain Franky said.

He further said that International Migration Organization (IMO) of the United Nations in charge of immigrants is attempting to repatriate them as refugees.