The Wire

Indonesian authorities have decided to allow the UN refugee agency to interview around 400 Rohingya refugees, in a marked change since the first boatload arrived in early January. The Rohingya are a muslim minority from Burma, who are fleeing persecution in their own country. Until recently, the Indonesian government said they were economic refugees and would be deported to Burma. The refugees gained international attention when it was claimed they had been towed to sea and dumped by Thai military forces.