Source: 22/04/2003 22:43:18 | ABC Radio Australia News


Indonesia says it has no legal obligation to stop an overcrowded boat from Vietnam reportedly trying to make its way to Australia.

Overloaded with 42 Vietnamese passengers the boat was instructed to leave South Kalimantan's port of Banjarmasin on the weekend, after being resupplied for the voyage.

There have since been conflicting reports from Indonesia that the boat had sailed further north along the Kalimantan coast and that it had sailed west to Tanjungpandan in the province of Riau near Singapore.

A spokesman for Indonesia's Foreign Ministry, Marty Natalegawa, said while the boat's destination remained uncertain, Indonesia understands Australian concerns.

For now though he says Indonesia is not obliged to act to intercept the boat.

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