"I do not know where they would be taken but what is clear is they are still under police watch," head of the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center, Sugiyo, said here on Monday.
He said the Tanjungpinang detention center`s capacity could still accommodate the 87 immigrants.
"Right now there are 324 illegal immigrants from various countries held in the center. If they are to be put there the center still has the capacity for it," he said.
Tanjungpinang police chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Suhendri confirmed the immigrants were still under police watch and could not be handed over to the immigration authorities.
"The authority for it is in the hands of the chief of the Riau Island Marine Police chief as they are their detainees," he said.
Two patrol boats and several police officers were seen carrying weapons watching the immigrants.
Several immigrants immediately spread banners calling for being sent to New Zealand upon knowing journalists approaching them.
"We will not disembark. We want to go to New Zealand," they said.
According to sources they could withstand on board the ship for one month as they still have supplies.
(Uu.H-YH/HAJM/A014)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
