Australia: boat carrying asylum seekers wrecks off Christmas Island, much loss of life
Posted by acorcoran on December 16, 2010
Residents of Christmas Island were awakened by screams from the sea as a wooden boat carrying an undetermined number of asylum seekers wrecked off Australia yesterday.
From AFP News:
SYDNEY (AFP) – Hope dwindled for survivors of a refugee boat wreck off Australia Thursday which killed at least 28 people, including seven children, renewing debate on the plight of boat people travelling from Asia.
The wooden craft, crowded with up to 100 Iraqi, Kurdish and Iranian asylum seekers and their children, hit rocks at remote Christmas Island Wednesday and was shattered by huge waves as residents watched in horror.
Traumatised survivors pulled from the sea after the disaster huddled in a hospital and reception centre Thursday, with the most seriously injured flown to Perth as hope faded of finding their fellow passengers alive in wild seas.
“We have got to prepare ourselves for the likelihood that more bodies will be found and there has been further loss of life than we know now,” warned Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who cut short her holiday to respond to the emergency.
[....]
More than 5,000 asylum seekers from Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have made their way to Australia this year, mostly on unseaworthy vessels from Indonesia, prompting criticism of Canberra for softening its refugee policy.
Read it all.
See our Australia category where we have written on many previous occasions about Australia’s boat people problem.
6 Responses to “Australia: boat carrying asylum seekers wrecks off Christmas Island, much loss of life”
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respect said
I have no problem with immigrants and LEGAL refugees. Once they destroy their ID papers and pay a people smuggler they should be charged with a crime and deported back to the country they just left, and not allowed to immigrate here EVER! They are criminals! Not the type of people who will make this country better. Today we have news reports of a detention centre destroyed by fire and battles with our police force. Really nice people, just the type I would want living next door to me – NOT! They have no respect for this country and our way of life so why come here? Just read the comment from Allahsoldier ( and take note of the name he/she chose to post with! War/violence related.) Go to a Muslim country like oh Indonesia where you just came from! That’s right no benefits and handouts there, they’d actually have to work. I studied with a lady who fled Iran after being persecuted and jailed because she was not Muslim and was divorced. She make her way to a refugee camp in Pakistan and waited 3 years with her very young daughter to make it to OZ. She was a wonderful person. She was very angry that any of these boat people – economic refugees – where allowed to settle here. So am I. Note none of the groups that protest for refugees will allow posts on their sites – because they know most people don’t agree with them.
Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Men: The Real Meaning of Christmas « A View from the Nest said
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aiko smith said
I live in Australia not Kangaroo Land and I for one am sick to death of illegal entrants coming to our shores. I feel no pity for any of them and as a whole their arrival repulses me. These people are essentially economic refugees and they are coming to our country as Australia is famed for its government handouts. They will no doubt become entrenched and choose not to assimilate into our society (as in the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Belgium, Italy). I am not racist but I certainly believe that we should be ultra ‘choosy’ when it comes down to who we should accept and the reasons for! Perhaps Allahsoldier these ‘unfortunate peoples’ who are predominately Muslim should choose fellow Muslim countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia as their cultural / religious beliefs are likely to be so much more compatible, no?
No Christmas on Christmas Island | YLBnoel's Blog said
[...] “Australia: boat carrying asylum seekers wrecks off Christmas Island, much loss of life”… (refugeeresettlementwatch.wordpress.com) [...]
Allahsoldier said
Cuz you live in stable country called kangaroo land! And those unfortunate people have to find a way to reach there.
Got it aussie.
FLAEDO said
They should teach the so called refugees how to swim before they attempt to reach here by sea.
On a different note l wonder why those that do come here illegally arent charged with committing a crime – illegal entry. l bet l will be charged if l try to get into some country without an appropriate visa or travel approvals. How come there’s one rule for these so called refugees and another rule for people like me who live in Australia.