By Kerri Ritchie
Posted Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:00pm AEST
The Tamil asylum seekers were en route to Australia when their boat was sized by Indonesia in October last year. (AAP: Adam Gartell)
Sri Lankan [Tamil] asylum seekers who were removed from an Indonesian port earlier this week say they are now being kept in cramped conditions in a detention centre which is like a prison.
About 150 Tamil boat people were put on buses on Monday and transported from the Port of Merak to Jakarta’s main airport.
They were then flown to the Indonesian city of Tanjung Pinang where they are now in a detention centre.
Two of the asylum seekers, who do not want to be identified, have contacted the ABC.
One likened the detention centre to a prison and says the accommodation is not what was promised by the Indonesian government.
Another asylum seeker said one hall has up to 45 people in it, but husbands, wives and children have been separated.
The Tamils say the water they are being given to bath in is yellow in colour and they are not allowed to use their mobile phones.
The boat people were on their way to Australia when they were seized by the Indonesian government in October last year.
Tags: Australia, News, Tamil asylum seekers
