These Sri Lankan asylum seekers were headed to Australia… but are now detained in Indonesia after their boat was intercepted by the Indonesian navy on October 10th.

They’ve been at port for the past two weeks… waiting for word if Australia will grant them refugee status. So now they’re calling for help from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Indonesian officials have allowed the wooden boat to dock at port until international organizations visit the Sri Lankans.

[Alex, Asylum Seeker]:
“We have been on this port for the past two weeks without taking any steps forward, without getting any resolutions. So we are united as one screaming for UNHCR to come here and we hope that UNHCR will hear our cries.”

Protesters say they won’t get off their boat until things change.

[Alex, Asylum Seeker]:
“We will continue our struggle and continue staying on the ship as long as it takes for the world to see us, for the world to hear us and for the world to know our situation.”

Australia had sought Indonesia’s help to stop the influx of illegal immigrants headed to their country through Indonesian waters. Both leaders held talks last week in Jakarta.