Some 129 Myanmar refugees rescued in Aceh

Antara News, Wed, February 16 2011

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Banda Aceh, Aceh Province (ANTARA News) - Some 129 Myanmarese refugees who got stranded in Krueng Raya waters in Aceh Besar district, Aceh Province, were rescued by local fishermen on Tuesday.

According to information gathered by Antara here on Wednesday, the refugees from Myanmar who had been tossed about at sea for several days were rescued by the local fishermen before midnight on Tuesday.

The information said the Krueng Raya fishermen finally towed the ill-fated boat the Maynmarese refugees traveling on to Malahayati port at Krueng Raya in Aceh Besar district.

Meanwhile, Aceh water police spokesman Senior Commissioner Zaini said the police along with immigration and quarantine officials were still trying to identify the foreign refugees.

"We have yet to know where they actually headed to. We are still trying to identify them at Krueng Raya`s Malahayati port," Zaini said.

In February 2009, hundreds of refugees from Myanmar were also rescued by the Indonesian Navy after drifting aboard a wooden boat at sea for almost three weeks.

They were at the time found by local fishermen who reported it to the Navy to rescue them.

After being interviewed, it was discovered that the refugees were part of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar who fled to Thailand in the previous month.

Editor: Priyambodo