A mid-ocean stand-off between Australia and Indonesia appeared to be developing as a customs vessel tried to return a boatload of rescued asylum seekers to a reluctant Indonesia.
Up to 56 asylum seekers were rescued from their wooden boat in Indonesia’s search and rescue zone by an Australian ship on Thursday and, rather than taking them to Christmas Island, it is seeking to return them to Indonesia.
Conflicting reports are emerging about the asylum seekers from the Indonesian search and rescue agency, Basarnas, and the Australian Customs department has declined to comment. Immigration minister Scott Morrison’s office released only a one-line statement late on Thursday saying:
“Australian authorities are liaising with their Indonesian counterparts in relation to a vessel that has requested assistance as the vessel is within Indonesia’s Search and Rescue zone”.
Basarnas’ deputy officer in charge, Adi Fachroni Azis earlier said Australia had “called us talking about evacuating the passengers [to Indonesia] but until now Indonesian authorities are still talking with their Australian counterparts. So far as I know, still no decision has been taken.”
On two occasions since the election of the Abbott government, rescued asylum seekers have been returned to Indonesian agencies in mid-ocean, ship-to-ship operations.
However, with tensions high over allegations of spying by Australia, and no agreement reached yet on a cooperative way of dealing with asylum seekers, the Indonesians may be reluctant to take the latest group.
