Man seeking refugee status claimed he was in danger of a revenge attack over a woman

A man has been denied refugee status in an Immigration Tribunal decision, despite his concerns a former friend might still be seeking revenge over a woman they both wanted – nearly 20 years ago.

Two men met at an Indonesian university in mid-2005 and discovered they had a crush on the same woman.

The pair came to a gentlemen’s agreement. The friend would have one week to woo the woman and if he was unsuccessful it would be the appellant’s turn.

But when the woman chose the appellant things turned violent.

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The friend demanded he stop seeing the woman. The appellant refused, a fight broke out, and he was stabbed.

Injured, the appellant fled on a “borrowed motorcycle” and hid in a friend’s home. He received medical treatment for his wound.

His ex-friend was still searching for him, so the appellant remained in hiding in another city for a year and a half.

His relationship with the woman faded away, and so too did his studies. He couldn’t complete his coursework and never graduated.

He did not contact his family because he was afraid they would also be in danger.

In 2009, the appellant decided to flee to New Zealand. He studied English, but because his results were poor his visa was not renewed and expired in 2012. He remained unlawfully in New Zealand ever since.

In 2020, the appellant applied for refugee status because – despite 16 years having passed – he believed his ex-friend would still seek revenge.

The council said that such a long-held grudge may seem implausible when viewed through a Western perspective, but there are other factors at play.

The appellant is Madurese and his friend is Dayak – two ethnic communities in Indonesia that were in violent conflict between late 1990s and early 2000s.

The appellant was a child when the violence broke out. He witnessed traumatising atrocities and his family were forced to flee to remain safe.

The Indonesian university he attended was multicultural and although the conflict had ended when attended, the backdrop of ethnic violence could not be ignored, the council argued.

The tribunal found the appellant’s account was credible but found his fear of persecution was “not well-founded”.

“It is years since there has been any evidence at all that [the friend] has shown any interest in the appellant’s whereabouts.

“There is no evidence that any of the appellant’s family members have since been approached by [the friend]… or have had any difficulties with the Dayak community,” the Tribunal said.

The Tribunal also said tensions have not risen since the Dayak-Madurese conflict ended in 2002.

“On the evidence available, the Tribunal is satisfied that there is not a real chance of the appellant being harmed if he were to return to Indonesia.”

The appellant’s appeal for refugee status was dismissed.