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| Three feared drowned after asylum seekers' boat sinks off Indonesia | Three feared drowned after asylum seekers' boat sinks off Indonesia |
| (2 months later) | |
| At least three asylum seekers have drowned and more than 150 pulled from the ocean by Indonesian authorities after their boat sank on the way to Christmas Island. It is believed a young girl is among the dead. | At least three asylum seekers have drowned and more than 150 pulled from the ocean by Indonesian authorities after their boat sank on the way to Christmas Island. It is believed a young girl is among the dead. |
| Australian officials alerted Indonesia about the sinking boat on Tuesday night and offered to help with a rescue effort on Wednesday morning but it was not taken up. | Australian officials alerted Indonesia about the sinking boat on Tuesday night and offered to help with a rescue effort on Wednesday morning but it was not taken up. |
| Indonesian authorities and fishermen rescued 157 survivors from the water according to Imam, an official from the National Search and Rescue Agency, who goes by one name. The boat sank off the West Java district of Cianjur. | Indonesian authorities and fishermen rescued 157 survivors from the water according to Imam, an official from the National Search and Rescue Agency, who goes by one name. The boat sank off the West Java district of Cianjur. |
| It is not known how many people are still missing. "Some of the survivors said there were about 200 people on board, but others said only 160," said Rochmali, who also uses a single name. "But we believe many have survived and run away avoiding authorities." | It is not known how many people are still missing. "Some of the survivors said there were about 200 people on board, but others said only 160," said Rochmali, who also uses a single name. "But we believe many have survived and run away avoiding authorities." |
| Imam said the majority of the passengers were Iraqis and Iranians though there were people from other countries onboard. The survivors will be taken back to Indonesia. | Imam said the majority of the passengers were Iraqis and Iranians though there were people from other countries onboard. The survivors will be taken back to Indonesia. |
| More than 15,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Australia by boat this year. Hundreds have died on the journey. | More than 15,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Australia by boat this year. Hundreds have died on the journey. |
| The sinking comes after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a hardline asylum seeker policy last week which will send all asylum seekers who arrive by boat on Australian shores to Papua New Guinea. On Wednesday Rudd used the latest sinking as an example of why the policy shift was needed. | The sinking comes after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced a hardline asylum seeker policy last week which will send all asylum seekers who arrive by boat on Australian shores to Papua New Guinea. On Wednesday Rudd used the latest sinking as an example of why the policy shift was needed. |
| "Too many innocent people have been lost at sea," he said. | "Too many innocent people have been lost at sea," he said. |
| "The asylum seeker policy we've adopted is about sending a very clear message to people smugglers that if you try to come to Australia by boat you will not be settled in Australia. ... That is all about destroying the people smugglers' business model." | "The asylum seeker policy we've adopted is about sending a very clear message to people smugglers that if you try to come to Australia by boat you will not be settled in Australia. ... That is all about destroying the people smugglers' business model." |
| The rescue operation comes as Customs and Border Protection confirmed they intercepted a boat carrying 38 asylum seekers on Monday. HMAS Bathurst intercepted the boat west of Christmas Island after it was detected by a RAAF patrol plane and the passengers have been transferred to the island to undergo health and other checks before being transferred to PNG. | The rescue operation comes as Customs and Border Protection confirmed they intercepted a boat carrying 38 asylum seekers on Monday. HMAS Bathurst intercepted the boat west of Christmas Island after it was detected by a RAAF patrol plane and the passengers have been transferred to the island to undergo health and other checks before being transferred to PNG. |
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