Australia Nabs Another 100 Asylum Seekers Off Its Coast

[News_Editor]

Australia nabs another 100 asylum seekers off its coast < br /> 2012-05-12 07:00:12 GMT+7 (ICT) SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA (BNO NEWS) -- The Australian Navy on early Friday intercepted a boat carrying nearly 100 asylum seekers, bringing the number of asylum seekers caught in one week to 464, the government reported. It indicates a sharp increase in the number of new arrivals.HMAS Wollongong, operating under the control of Australia's Border Protection Command, intercepted the suspected people smuggling vessel northeast of Christmas Island on early Friday morning. It was initially detected by a Royal Australian Air Force maritime patrol aircraft.Korena Flanagan, a spokeswoman for Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare, said the vessel was carrying a total of 99 passengers and two crew members on board. "Border Protection Command will now make arrangements for the passengers to be transferred to Christmas Island, where they will undergo initial security, health and identity checks and their reasons for travel will be established," she said.The office of Clare also reported that the HMAS Childers intercepted another people smuggling vessel northwest of Ashmore Island on Thursday. There were a total of 60 people on board who were also transferred to Christmas Island, where all asylum seekers are taken to and detained.So far this year, the Australian Navy has intercepted 2,518 irregular maritime arrivals (IMAs), most of them coming from Afghanistan and Iran who use Indonesia as a transit region. As of March 31, a total of 4,197 people are being held in immigration facilities while 1,712 people have been approved for a residence determination to live in the community.Australia's Migration Act 1958 requires people who are not Australian citizens and who are unlawfully in Australia to be detained. This law has been heavily criticized by the United Nations and human rights organizations as many asylum seekers are in detention for months. In 2010, a total of 4,612 irregular maritime arrivals were intercepted by the Australian Navy.However, the boat journeys made by asylum seekers are not without risk. 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 remain missing.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2012-05-12

[koheesti]

"Border Protection Command will now make arrangements for the passengers to be transferred to Christmas Island,..."

Well there's the problem right there, isn't it? No wonder so many people get caught trying to sneak in the country. They must think they are going to get presents and candy going to a place called Christmas Island. Maybe they should consider a name change.

[Credo]

Here's what they should do with those arrivals. Tell them they are going to Christmas Island and if you accept Christ as your savior, you will get a Christmas present...you will be resettled in Australia.

The thing is, if they convert to Christianity, then they really can't be returned to their home country, since most of those countries impose the death penalty on those that convert to Christianity.

[folium]

"Border Protection Command will now make arrangements for the passengers to be transferred to Christmas Island,..."

Well there's the problem right there, isn't it? No wonder so many people get caught trying to sneak in the country. They must think they are going to get presents and candy going to a place called Christmas Island. Maybe they should consider a name change.

Due to the phosphate/guano mining found there, Christmas Island (like Nauru, another Pacific Solution location) is sometimes referred to as "Bird-Sh1t island", perhaps that would do the trick!

[coma]

But is no Santa Claus coming to that Christmas Island. They will have to wait till they eventually get to the mainland. That is when all thier Christmas' will come at once.

[Berek]

Someone who can afford the $20,000 to pay a people smuggler is not a refugee.

[Colin Yai]

Someone who can afford the $20,000 to pay a people smuggler is not a refugee.

Your post is well noted and appreciated ,(at least by us three)! it would appear to many that the exorbitant price of the one way tickets to the Australian "gravy train" is well worth it just who they think they are kidding?? Edited May 12, 2012 by Colin Yai

[Steely Dan]

But is no Santa Claus coming to that Christmas Island. They will have to wait till they eventually get to the mainland. That is when all thier Christmas' will come at once.

They should be taken to Easter Island and given stone working tools.

[David48]

There has been additional comment over at this recent thread also about boat people seeking asylum in Australia ...

[maidu]

most of them coming from Afghanistan and Iran who use Indonesia as a transit region

Sounds like Indonesian authorities are aiding in the the process. Better would be if the Indonesians dealt with it more responsibly. In other words, if a delapidated boat comes to their shore, they check papers (as they would with any foreigners coming to Indonesia), and deal with them responsibly and humanely. It's not an easy dynamic, because obviously the seaborne people want to get to Australia, and don't want to try settling in a fellow-muslim country like Indonesia.

Perhaps the UN should have a special office set up to reimburse countries which provide safe passage for refugees being repatriated to their home countries. The amount of recompense would be commensurate with the distance. In other words, if Indonesia sent Afghan seafarers back to Afghanistan, the Indonesian authorities would get compensated x-amount per returnee by the UN fund. The fund would get funded by the affected 'destination' countries.

[Scott]

The UN has played a significant role in giving assistance to countries that host asylum seekers. They help with feeding, clothing, housing, education and resettlement of refugees and the return of those who are not refugees.

The country of first asylum in this case would be Indonesia, which has to allow for camps and the boat people need to be somewhat willing to undergo screening there. I doubt, however, that many of the boat people are true refugees and a stop in Indonesia will not result in reaching Australia, ever.

The non-refugees have a poor, but better shot at resettlement if they can make it all the way to Australia.

[GiHadOrange]

Here's what they should do with those arrivals. Tell them they are going to Christmas Island and if you accept Christ as your savior, you will get a Christmas present...you will be resettled in Australia.

The thing is, if they convert to Christianity, then they really can't be returned to their home country, since most of those countries impose the death penalty on those that convert to Christianity.

Maybe that is the reason why they flee.

[GiHadOrange]

Someone who can afford the $20,000 to pay a people smuggler is not a refugee.

Someone who can afford the $20,000 to pay a people smuggler is not a economic refugee.