The governor of Indonesia's Riau Islands, Ismeth Abdullah, is refusing to accept 78 asylum seekers from Sri Lanka. Their vessel got into difficulties last week while it was attempting to reach Australia.
Australia deployed a customs ship to pick up the migrants and Indonesia agreed to take them on humanitarian grounds. Despite the deal, Mr Abdullah is refusing to co-operate, saying Indonesia is not a dumping ground for refugees.
He says the ship carrying the migrants will not be allowed to anchor in Kijang harbour near Singapore without an order from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
photo: boat people (EPA)
boat people (EPA)
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