This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/10/asylum-seekers-bodies-christmas-island

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Drowned bodies of asylum seekers may not be retrieved by authorities Drowned bodies of asylum seekers to be left in the water by authorities
(about 1 hour later)
The bodies of up to 60 asylum seekers who drowned off Christmas Island may be left in the water, as Australian authorities are still undecided about whether or not to retrieve them. The bodies of up to 60 asylum seekers who drowned off Christmas Island will be left in the water, with Australian authorities deciding their retrieval is not a priority.
While an investigation has been launched into the several delays it took to begin a full-scale search after the boat was first spotted on Wednesday afternoon, Australian Customs and Border Protection may not pick up the bodies. While an investigation has been launched into the several delays it took to begin a full-scale search after the boat was first spotted on Wednesday afternoon, Australian Customs and Border Protection have decided not retrieve the bodies.
“It is up to Customs and Border Protections to decide whether there will be a recovery of bodies,” a spokeswoman said. “No decision has been made.” “No attempts to recover the deceased will be made today,” a spokeswoman said.
The boat was first noticed by an air force plane on Wednesday afternoon about 52km north of Christmas Island. It did not seem to be in distress, but it was not moving. “Vessels and aircraft are involved in a range of high priority operations in the waters near Christmas Island and elsewhere.
The crew of the plane counted 55 people on the deck. Most of the asylum seekers were men but some women and children appeared to be on board. “Our priority in these operations remains the protection of life, responding to water rescues which may prevent any further loss of life.”
The Australian Customs and Border Protection may try to recover the bodies at a later date but the spokeswoman said the likelihood of “successful recovery” diminishes over time.
Refugee advocates have expressed dismay the bodies will be left in the ocean saying the asylum seekers deserve some dignity.
Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said retrieving the bodies would be a comfort to the families left behind.
“We’re always in favour of retrieving their bodies. There are families in refugee communities who look at these episodes with anguish and it can give people some closure to get some better idea of who was on the boat and letting people know what has happened to relatives and loved ones,” he said.
Rintoul said the nationalities of the people on the boat should emerge over the next few days when people do not hear from their families and friends who they would be expecting to have arrived at the island by now.
He also criticised the time it took for a proper search to be launched saying it was almost two days after the boat was first spotted.
“When the plane first spotted the boat it was stationed in the water, that in itself should have set off alarm bells for people in that plane and rescue authorities,” he said.
“These kind of boats when they are in the water and stationary are unstable.
“That boat was only a few hours, at the most, from arriving at Christmas Island - when it did not arrive it should of set off immediate alarm bells for a wider search. But all we saw was a navy boat.
“There was no mayday call until Friday. There is clearly a need for an inquiry into this particular boat in distress and we need to know the protocol and procedures the navy and rescue authorities were operating in.”
The boat was first noticed by an air force plane on Wednesday afternoon about 52 km north of Christmas Island. It did not seem to be in distress, but it was not moving.
The crew of the plane counted 55 people on the deck. Most of the asylum seekers were men but there appeared to be some women and children on board.
A navy ship was sent out about seven hours later to intercept the boat and arrived at the place the boat was last seen upright in the early hours of Thursday morning.A navy ship was sent out about seven hours later to intercept the boat and arrived at the place the boat was last seen upright in the early hours of Thursday morning.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) did not send out a PAN-PAN (Potential Assistance Needed) call until 10am on Friday. The capsized boat was not found until Friday afternoon. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), did not send out a PAN-PAN (Potential Assistance Needed) call until 10am on Friday. The capsized boat was not found until Friday afternoon.
Rintoul said as far as the refugee advocates had been told, only a corridor was searched on Thursday and he wanted a far reaching inquiry, not just the standard investigation which was taking place.
“We’ve got a situation where there simply has not been an adequate response,” he said.
Phil Gendinning from the research and awareness organisation the Edmund Rice Centre, supported Rintoul’s calls for a full investigation into the timeframe of the search and said the bodies should not be left in the ocean.
“This is an unmitigated tragedy of every proportion,” he said.
“Our preference would be retrieving the bodies so they can be given the chance of a dignified farewell without putting lives at risk.
“We also need to make sure this does not happen again.
“...a bipartisan effort needs to be made to assist people to be processed safely and securely.
“They need to be protected, not punished.”
The search was called off on Sunday night with no survivors found and 13 dead bodies seen in the water.The search was called off on Sunday night with no survivors found and 13 dead bodies seen in the water.
Border Protection Commander Rear Admiral David Johnston said on Sunday none of the bodies spotted in the search were pulled from the water.Border Protection Commander Rear Admiral David Johnston said on Sunday none of the bodies spotted in the search were pulled from the water.
"The recovery of bodies is complex and time-consuming, so all the surface vessels are continuing [the search] because it remains possible that there are survivors in the water," he said."The recovery of bodies is complex and time-consuming, so all the surface vessels are continuing [the search] because it remains possible that there are survivors in the water," he said.
Two planes and two ships searched for survivors from Friday until Sunday night.Two planes and two ships searched for survivors from Friday until Sunday night.
Home Affairs minister Jason Clare said the search will be the subject of a “standard” review by Customs and Border Protection.Home Affairs minister Jason Clare said the search will be the subject of a “standard” review by Customs and Border Protection.
It is not known where the asylum seekers began their journey.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.