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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/01/lifeboat-australia-return-asylum-seekers-found-java
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Lifeboat reportedly used by Australia to return asylum seekers found in Java | Lifeboat reportedly used by Australia to return asylum seekers found in Java |
| (7 months later) | |
| The sophisticated orange vessel was discovered by Indonesian authorities on the west coast of Java and was believed to be carrying about 60 asylum seekers, according to a report from News Limited. | The sophisticated orange vessel was discovered by Indonesian authorities on the west coast of Java and was believed to be carrying about 60 asylum seekers, according to a report from News Limited. |
| The report said the asylum seekers dispersed into the Indonesian jungle when the vessel came ashore. | The report said the asylum seekers dispersed into the Indonesian jungle when the vessel came ashore. |
| The "unsinkable" boat is reportedly one of 11 purchased by the federal government in a bid to stop asylum seekers from reaching Australia. | The "unsinkable" boat is reportedly one of 11 purchased by the federal government in a bid to stop asylum seekers from reaching Australia. |
| Prime minister Tony Abbott has described pictures of a lifeboat aground in Indonesia as "rather arresting" but wouldn't say if the vessel was used by Australian authorities to send back asylum seekers. | Prime minister Tony Abbott has described pictures of a lifeboat aground in Indonesia as "rather arresting" but wouldn't say if the vessel was used by Australian authorities to send back asylum seekers. |
| When asked about the report, Abbott said the government's border protection policies were helping stop the flow of asylum seeker boats. | |
| He made reference to a prospective asylum seeker quoted in the report as saying the passage to Australia was now closed. | He made reference to a prospective asylum seeker quoted in the report as saying the passage to Australia was now closed. |
| "Well, thank you sir, the way is closed ... and as far as this government is concerned never, ever will it be reopened," he told reporters in Brisbane on Saturday. | |
| The fully enclosed vessel discovered by Indonesian authorities was one of 11 bought by the Abbott government in a bid to stop asylum seekers from reaching Australia, the report said. | The fully enclosed vessel discovered by Indonesian authorities was one of 11 bought by the Abbott government in a bid to stop asylum seekers from reaching Australia, the report said. |
| The boats can carry up to 90 passengers and are air-conditioned, fitted with safety and navigational equipment and stocked with food and water. | The boats can carry up to 90 passengers and are air-conditioned, fitted with safety and navigational equipment and stocked with food and water. |
| Morrison has previously refused to confirm reports the government was planning to buy hard-hulled lifeboats to combat the practice of asylum seekers sabotaging old fishing boats at sea. | Morrison has previously refused to confirm reports the government was planning to buy hard-hulled lifeboats to combat the practice of asylum seekers sabotaging old fishing boats at sea. |
| But in mid-January, Operation Sovereign Borders commander Angus Campbell did confirm the purchase of the lifeboats, while declining to say how they would be used. | But in mid-January, Operation Sovereign Borders commander Angus Campbell did confirm the purchase of the lifeboats, while declining to say how they would be used. |
| The development alarmed Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa, who expressed concern that Australia could be going further than turning boats back by potentially facilitating the movement of asylum seekers. | The development alarmed Indonesian foreign minister Marty Natalegawa, who expressed concern that Australia could be going further than turning boats back by potentially facilitating the movement of asylum seekers. |