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Indonesia Criticizes Countries That Keep Out Refugees VOA News 27 Feb 2002 12:20 UTC 
Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri has criticized nations that unilaterally block refugees from crossing their borders.
She spoke on the Indonesian island of Bali Wednesday on the first day of a regional conference aimed at eradicating people smuggling. Ministers from more than 30 nations are in attendance.
Ms. Megawati accused some governments of being impatient and acting alone to prevent the people smuggling problem from reaching their shores. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he is certain Ms. Megawati was not referring to Australia.
Friction arose between the two nations last year over which country should bear responsibility for illegal migrants trying to enter Australia from Indonesia.
A stand-off ensued when Canberra blocked a ship carrying hundreds of refugees from docking in Australian territory. Jakarta refused to let the asylum seekers return to Indonesian soil, and they were eventually sent to a third country.
Thousands of migrants go to Indonesia every year, and then try to go from there to enter Australia illegally.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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