Four Afghan asylum seekers en route to Australia were killed on June 27 2012, after their vessel capsized off the coast of Indonesia’s largest island, Java. The remainder of the 134 passengers on board, largely children and women, were rescued.
This accident comes just seven days after another boat carrying asylum seekers headed for Australia overturned near Christmas Island, killing close to a hundred passengers. According to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Authority, the latest accident occurred when the vessel capsized around 115 miles south of Java, Indonesia.
At the time of the incident, the ship was just less than half way to its destination, Christmas Island, an island controlled by the Australian government. Christmas Island has become a popular choice for refugees seeking asylum, as it is in close proximity to Indonesia and other South East Asian countries.
The ships used to transport asylum seekers are often overcrowded and do not have the equipment or skilled crew needed to traverse the rough seas around the Indonesian islands. Unfortunately, this often ends in tragedy such as these last two incidents within just one week of each other.
According to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the survivors of the accident were rescued by a number of merchant ships in the area as well as an Australian naval patrol boat, all of which responded to the distress call from the asylum seeker’s vessel earlier that morning. The majority of those rescued were refugees from Afghanistan.
The Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has called the incidents a ‘tragedy’, and has congratulated Australian citizens on their prompt and courageous response to the accidents.
Government officials in Australia are still battling to deal with the ever increasing numbers of refugees seeking asylum in regions such as Christmas Island. The country has a strict immigration policy, but does grant asylum to around 13 000 refugees a year in order to honor its humanitarian commitments to the international community.
However, tens of thousands of refugees attempt to reach the border illegally each year. The Australian government is looking for ways to deter smugglers from travelling to Australia with illegal immigrants through the treacherous Indian Ocean. As an effort to discourage illegal people-smuggling, Australia struck a deal with the Malaysian government, sending 800 boat people back to Malaysia in exchange for 4000 legally registered refugees. Despite these attempts, however, desperate individuals who can’t get legal papers continue to attempt the journey each year.
