As I mentioned in my previous post title Jet Set Refugees,
http://gripes-of-wrath.blogspot.com/2011/12/jet-set-refugees.html rather than squirm and be appalled at the tragedy happening now, we need to focus on the reason for this chain of events which is clearly outlined in the news story below.
And this latest news story shows exactly what I've been drawing attention to. I bold print to make my point.MORE than 200 asylum seekers are feared to have died after their boat sank off Java, victims of increasingly brazen syndicates that are funnelling people through Jakarta airport before packing them onto unsafe boats bound for Australia.
Just over a year after a disaster off Christmas Island in which 50 people died, a boat carrying about 250 asylum seekers sank off Prigi beach in eastern Java on Saturday.
There were conflicting reports last night about how many people survived. Indonesian officials said there were only 34 - contradicting Australia's new Home Affairs Minister, Jason Clare, who said 87 asylum seekers had been rescued.Just over a year after a disaster off Christmas Island in which 50 people died, a boat carrying about 250 asylum seekers sank off Prigi beach in eastern Java on Saturday.There were conflicting reports last night about how many people survived. Indonesian officials said there were only 34 - contradicting Australia's new Home Affairs Minister, Jason Clare, who said 87 asylum seekers had been rescued.
The Afghans and Iranians who survived five hours in the water included two boys aged about 10 and two women, while the rest were adult males.
An Afghan survivor, Esmat Adine, described the sinking as ''like the Titanic''. The boat capsized quickly from the rear, he told the Indonesian news site tribunnews.com. ''We tried to hold onto anything,'' he said.
Survivors said about 40 of the 250 people on board were children. The boat had a normal capacity of about 100, according to Kelik Enggar Purwanto, of the local search and rescue team. It was unlikely any more survivors would be found, he said.
A Jakarta refugee advocate told The Age he had been in contact with a survivor who lost his wife and two youngest children. ''They were packed onto a boat, most of them in cabins below deck. Some of those on deck survived but everyone below died when the boat capsized.''Many of the asylum seekers had flown from Dubai to Jakarta, where Indonesian officials are said to have charged them $500 each to pass through the airport without visas. They were then taken in four buses to an unknown location on the south coast of Java.......................................................................................................................................
The case highlights the increased confidence of people-smuggling networks and the huge demand for their services. In recent months, the regularity of vessels attempting to cross to Australia has increased, as has the size of their human cargo.
Australia's main political parties expressed horror at the latest disaster and condemned people smugglers, but avoided criticism of each other's policies. Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan said: ''Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who died or are missing following this terrible event. It's a tragic reminder of the dangers of attempting journeys like this.''
With ANDREW STEVENSON, RICHARD WILLINGHAM
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/huge-toll-as-boat-sinks-20111218-1p0xo.html#ixzz1gvCeHDjc
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