This is an archive. Free Speech Radio News ended daily production in 2017 and this site is no longer updated — it preserves FSRN’s reporting from 2000–2017.

In Indonesia, those fleeing violence in home countries trapped in search for asylum

Recovered from FSRN’s earlier site via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Originally published February 7, 2012.

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Many people fleeing violence in war-torn countries like Iraq, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, make a long journey to reach Australia, where they have a chance to start a new life as asylum seekers. Along the way, Indonesia has become a major transit point. For those attempting the journey by sea, it can be dangerous and sometimes vessels are rescued or intercepted in Indonesian waters. This often leads to long periods of detention or an uncertain life in a refugee camp. FSRN’s Rebecca Henschke recently visited some of these asylum seekers and files this report.