Australia intercepts people smuggling vessel carrying dozens

[News_Editor]

Australia intercepts people smuggling vessel carrying dozens

2011-10-02 00:55:46 GMT+7 (ICT)

SYDNEY (BNO NEWS) -- The Australian Navy on Saturday intercepted a suspected people smuggling vessel carrying more than 70 people, the government said. It is the second vessel in less than a week.

HMAS Albany, operating under the control of Border Protection Command, intercepted the vessel north of Christmas Island, an island in the Indian Ocean northwest of Australia. The vessel was carrying a total of 70 passengers and two crew members.

"The vessel was initially detected by a RAAF P3 aircraft, operating under the control of Border Protection Command," said Maria Hawthorne, a government spokeswoman. "The passengers will be transferred to Christmas Island, where they will undergo initial checks and their reasons for travel will be established."

The Australian Navy frequently intercepts vessels carrying dozens of asylum seekers off its coast. On Wednesday, the HMAS Albany intercepted another vessel carrying 75 passengers and two crew members.

Australia currently has more than 6,000 asylum seekers from countries such as Iran, Iraq, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in detention. The United Nations has previously criticized the country for holding all asylum seekers in detention centers while their applications are being assessed.

In December 2010, at least 30 people were killed when a boat carrying more than 90 asylum seekers sank off the coast of Christmas Island. Forty-two people were rescued while an unknown number of people drowned.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-10-02

[Pedzie]

If only the UK would adopt these policies :-)

[Scott]

Off-topic, anti-Islamic post deleted.

Please stick to the topic of the OP and refrain from unnecessarily inflammatory language to any race or religion.

[Steely Dan]

I lay much of the blame at the feet of liberal multiculturalism, these policies have wreaked havoc wherever they have been attempted. All civilizations are not equal and a society should not be expected to bend over backwards to accommodate the demands of those who refuse to integrate. The UK faces far worse problems as the EU foist their much abused human rights legislation on it and so even the very worst cultural enrichers are nigh on impossible to kick out.

Edited October 4, 2011 by Scott
Deleted quote edited out

[Scott]

A post discussing moderation has been deleted.

[softgeorge]

You want stop them. The navy just tows them to Australian soil at Christmas Island and then they are in the country. They are flocking to Australia for all the handouts free housing, education, health system, mobile phones and double the money each fortnight that Australian pensioners are getting. Australia is the lucky country if you are not an aussie. Aussies have been crying out for God only knows how long that enough is enough as the health and social security services are stretch to the limit and the tax payer just cannot afford anymore to support them. Australian Government just hasn't learnt from europe in relation to these people and they have the attitude of it won't happen in Australia.