"They moved from immigration detention centers in Cilegon because it is inadequate and unfit for occupation," head of Tanjungpinang immigration detention centers M Yunus Junaid said here on Thursday.
Yunus added that the immigrants will stay in Tanjungpinang until the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) determines their status as refugees.
"UNHCR proposed the immigrants go to third countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, for resettlement. The third countries will decide whether they want to accept the illegal immigrants or not," he added.
He said there are 380 asylum seeker at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention centers, with many coming from Afghanistan, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
Indonesia has become a major transit point for asylum seekers, mostly from the Middle East, along their journey to Australia.
(I025/KR-BSR/S012)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
