Indonesian police said Sunday they had detained in East Java province 17 Afghan and Iraqi migrants who were trying to reach Australia. The men - 14 Afghans and three Iraqis - were arrested early Sunday at the coast in Sidoarjo district, district police chief Muhammad Iqbal told AFP.
"A wooden boat was waiting there to take them to Australia. We managed to get to the migrants before they could get on to the boat," he added. "They had no documents on them and they wanted to go to Australia to seek asylum," Iqbal said. "We are still questioning the migrants. We suspect they were brought here by people smugglers," he added.
Indonesia is a key staging point for smugglers taking Afghans, Sri Lankans and other nationals on a perilous sea journey to Australia. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is under intense political pressure over the issue after a surge in arrivals via Indonesia this year.
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