UP to 50 asylum-seekers are feared drowned after their boat was smashed on to cliffs at Christmas Island.
Authorities believe the boat was in a desperate, night-time dash for safety.
As rescuers last night continued to scour the ocean for survivors after the worst known loss of asylum-seekers’ lives at sea since the SIEV X tragedy in October 2001, sources told The Australian it appeared the boat’s attempts to reach the island’s only safe harbour in mountainous seas tragically helped them avoid detection.
The first authorities knew of the wooden fishing boat was when it appeared out of the pre-dawn darkness.
Officials told The Australian the Indonesian boat, believed to be carrying about 70 Iraqi and Iranian asylum-seekers, was not under constant surveillance, although it may have been detected earlier on its journey. They said it appeared the boat tried to make it to Flying Fish Cove overnight, meaning it was harder to detect for the regular navy and Customs patrols.
Full story in The Australian, HERE
Blame game begins after asylum boat tragedy
By Brigid Andersen and staff
Australian authorities likely knew a doomed asylum seeker boat was headed for Christmas Island before it was wrecked, a refugee advocate says, as others blame government policies for the disaster.
Up to 80 asylum seekers, including women and children, were on board the wooden Indonesian fishing boat when it was smashed to pieces on rocks in rough seas near Flying Fish Cove early yesterday morning.
Customs says 27 bodies have been recovered and 42 people were rescued. Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor has confirmed that children were among the dead.
Authorities will start searching again for victims of the disaster as soon as light breaks in the region.
Pamela Curr from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre says an investigation is needed to determine how the boat came so close to landing at Christmas Island.
“We have a huge surveillance operation. We’ve got AFP officers in Indonesia who ride the ferries between Malaysia and Indonesia who arrest people alongside the Indonesian police in hostels,” she said.
“We have air surveillance, we have water surveillance, we have a very efficient border security operation out there.
“These people are not political. They are just there to see who’s in the water, who needs help, how close they are to Australia and they absolutely know who is approaching our shoreline.”
Ms Curr says if border security officials were aware of the vessel they should never have allowed it to approach Christmas Island in such rough seas.
“What happened that they allowed this boat to head towards Christmas Island, knowing there’s a three to five-metre swell which would make it impossible for such a fragile fishing boat to land safely,” she said.
Andrew Wilkie:
A statement from Andrew Wilkie on the Christmas Island Asylum Boat Disaster
The Christmas Island asylum boat disaster was a graphic human tragedy and compelling demonstration of the need for Australia to urgently reform its irregular immigration policy.
I’m expecting a letter from the Prime Minister with details about the standing group she has announced to receive reports on the tragedy from Government agencies.
I need to see that letter before I decide whether or not I want to participate in the proposed standing group.
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