Hi all,

How does one travel from Indonesia to Australia on a ferry and without passport (does anyone have any links with the snakeheads/traffickers?)

1) How long it takes and how much should we be ready to pay the ferry people?

2) From where in indonesia is one most likely to find such ferry people?

3) What kind of equipment should one be ready with, if one has to travel on the rough seas?

I need to get someone out of a country, where he is in danger and so kindly please,, kindly no unkind comments... please.... thank you.

I would think very seriously before going down this route.

People smugglers from Indonesia and other parts of asia routinely charge a small fortune for smuggling people in your friends situation, usually in severely overcrowded, poorly maintained boats.
They are then often set on fire once they are intercepted by the Australian coast guard or Navy patrol so that they cannot be turned around.
Drownings and severe burning has occurred.
If they are actually lucky enough to be intercepted they will then be sent off shore (to a pacific Island country handsomely paid to do it) and await processing which can take up to 5-7 years while they investigate your case.
This is the likely outcome for your friend and with no official documents, the harder for the government to investigate your friends identity and reason for asking for Asylum (this will be his only option when caught, if he hopes to stay) the longer the processing time.

People are routinely sent back to country of origen after spending years in these camps (I'm talking barbed wire, prison like confinement)

If its a life or death situation then I guess this may be an appealing option but it is unfortunately the most likely outcome for your friend.

Thx Realmc26,

I was told a different story and that under the new PM, situation had improved slightly for such cases. Guess it's still as bad as before.

Nevertheless, situation of my friend is dire and if you have any tips on
my earlier questions posted above, they would be much appreciated.

We mainly wish to know the port of departure? Time it will take for the trip to complete and precautions to take. I believe not many people will be aware of how much it would cost, but if you have ever heard of any figure, would appreciate it, if you share it, since then we can figure out, if we can afford it. Thanks again for replying.

The situation politically is not that different since John Howard was prime minister. On the whole the australian public is against illegal boat immigrants and there is huge pressure on the government to deal with them harshly, hence the difficulty in getting processed once caught and sending them offshore and not to Australia to make the option less attractive.

I have heard various media reports of people paying anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 $U.S
have heard lots of stories of boats breaking down and drifting for weeks or months. Basically high risk of death with this option and if the boat gets through high risk of being picked up long before you reach Australia.

I would doubt that many people on this forum would have any knowlege of, or contacts in the people smuggling trade.
After all this is an adventure motorcycling forum and travel is done with official documentation unless you want to end up in jail.
Consider this. You obviously have no contacts. You could obviously make enquiries at any ports in indonesia. The most likely scenario is you will get ripped off or get your throats cut or both.

You can google people smuggling to australia and you will see the sort of boats used. Often very small and as I mentioned they dont use boats in good repair because they burn/sink them when intercepted and the people doing the smuggling have no interest whatsoever in your welfare once they have your $

Not sure where you will get this sort of info but unless your friend has a genuine political/religous etc reason to apply for asylum, he has little chance of staying. If he has to leave because of criminal activity then his chances are probably zero. Have no idea how many boats actually get through but it would be very low percentage. This is highly illegal so I doubt you will find much info on the internet.

I think realmc26 has summed up the situation adequately.

I am an Australian citizen who thinks that the "problem" of boat people has been hyped up to an absurd degree by some Australian politicians and the media. It's my understanding that many of those who've been processed by the immigration department have turned out to be legitimate refugees, and have eventually been allowed to stay.

However it would be morally irresponsible of me to urge or assist anyone to take a people smuggler's boat from Indonesia to Australia, even if that person had a valid reason to claim asylum. The risk of death at sea is far too high.

In any event, I don't have any contacts who could help your friend, and I doubt very much that you'll find anyone in Australia who does.

If your friend does find someone to ferry him to Australian territory, he should be aware that his problems won't be over when he steps off the boat. A long period of misery is guaranteed because of current government policies.

If I were you then Australia is the last place on earth to try and get into. Previous posts will have given you the reasons why, and they are a lot more efficient at removing those they dont want than most other countries.
If your friend is in a bad a situation as you state then i would look at going to a different destination, as its "not" being where he is that is important part rather than a "dream" destination. JMHO

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Thanks very much for all of your comments and advise. These are perhaps truly life saving advises. I will try to see, if he can be sent to some part of Europe, I have heard, Italy is slightly more tolerating of people that are in trouble. Thanks again.