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Living in limbo, but ready to risk death at sea

By  Helen Regan Democratic Voice of Burma January 04, 2014 Burmese asylum-seekers currently based in Indonesia say they will continue to risk their lives and travel by boat to Australia, despite the very high chance they will never get there. Among the rolling hills of Cisarua, a small town three hours from Jakarta, about 800 asylum-seekers live in overcrowded houses. Those who have fled their homes in Burma, Afghanistan, Iran and elsewhere in Asia have paid people-smugglers to take them to Indonesia, in the hope that one day they will be able start a new life in Australia. Saw Aung is originally from Mon state. He fled his home because he said he was being persecuted for being a Muslim. He has been living in Cisarua with his wife, Cho Cho, and two children for a year. He has already tried to get to Australia by boat but a storm forced the tiny vessel to turn back to Indonesia. “Suddenly, heavy rain and a storm came in. Everyone was scared,” he said. “We ha...