Indonesia is the world's most populated Islamic country and this article below in today's news shows the good relations between Australia and Indonesia.
Afghan asylum seekers 'to be sent home'
Adam Gartrell
April 20, 2009 - 5:39PM
Seventy Afghan asylum seekers who planned to sail from Indonesia to Australia will be returned to their war-torn home country, authorities say.
The Afghans were apprehended without proper travel documents at a hotel at the beach resort of Anyer, near the capital Jakarta, late last week.
The group was planning to sail to Australia, but say they were abandoned by the people smugglers they paid to get them there.
The Afghans, most from the minority Hazara ethnic group, have pleaded for Australia's help.
But police in the West Javan province of Banten say they will be deported back to Afghanistan.
The group was detained the same day a boat carrying asylum seekers exploded, killing at least five people and wounding dozens more, as it was being escorted to Christmas Island.
It was the sixth boat of asylum seekers intercepted by authorities in Australian waters this year.
Indonesian authorities have thwarted many more attempts by suspected asylum seekers to sail to Australia.
Meanwhile, police in Sumatra's Jambi province reportedly arrested 10 Afghans, aged 20 to 26, who recently arrived in Indonesia with plans to seek asylum in Australia.
The Afghans told police they originally fled to Pakistan, but later decided to try to reach Australia, Indonesian news website Liputan.com reported.
Afghan asylum seekers 'to be sent home'
Adam Gartrell
April 20, 2009 - 5:39PM
Seventy Afghan asylum seekers who planned to sail from Indonesia to Australia will be returned to their war-torn home country, authorities say.
The Afghans were apprehended without proper travel documents at a hotel at the beach resort of Anyer, near the capital Jakarta, late last week.
The group was planning to sail to Australia, but say they were abandoned by the people smugglers they paid to get them there.
The Afghans, most from the minority Hazara ethnic group, have pleaded for Australia's help.
But police in the West Javan province of Banten say they will be deported back to Afghanistan.
The group was detained the same day a boat carrying asylum seekers exploded, killing at least five people and wounding dozens more, as it was being escorted to Christmas Island.
It was the sixth boat of asylum seekers intercepted by authorities in Australian waters this year.
Indonesian authorities have thwarted many more attempts by suspected asylum seekers to sail to Australia.
Meanwhile, police in Sumatra's Jambi province reportedly arrested 10 Afghans, aged 20 to 26, who recently arrived in Indonesia with plans to seek asylum in Australia.
The Afghans told police they originally fled to Pakistan, but later decided to try to reach Australia, Indonesian news website Liputan.com reported.