Extract from The Guardian website:
Immigration minister won't comment on 'operations at sea' while it is still unclear where rescued passengers will end up.
Indonesian authorities will not accept an asylum seeker boat
intercepted by an Australian vessel in a further sign that tensions are
continuing to build between the two countries.
More than 50 asylum seekers were reported to be the subject of the operation involving Indonesian and Australian authorities, with HMAS Ballarat responding to a distress call from their wooden boat. But reports have described a "mid-ocean standoff" between Indonesia and Australia over where those rescued will be returned.
The immigration and border protection minister, Scott Morrison, denied there was a standoff between Indonesia and Australia over the boat but refused to provide any operational details in relation to the ongoing rescue mission.
But Agus Barnas, a spokesman for Indonesia's minister for legal, political and security affairs, said the boat had been in working order when the Australian naval vessel approached it.
"From what I've been told, the boat was fine and they were not in danger," he said. "If that's the case, then we reject it.
"We don't want Indonesia to be a dumping ground, but we don't want Australia to accuse us of not doing anything. We want to respect Australia.
"At least for the time being we will not accept them."
Indonesia's foreign minister, Dr Marty Natalegawa, also foreshadowed that Jakarta would no longer take back asylum seekers unless they were in imminent danger.
"In the case where there is no safety-at-sea issue, where the people are fine, the boat is not sinking, does Indonesia feel an obligation or not to take people from those Australian vessels?" Natalegawa said on Friday.
"Then the question is under what circumstance are we bringing them to Indonesia? There wouldn't be any apparent need for them to be brought back to Indonesia."
Morrison and Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, confirmed that all asylums seekers – understood to be about 56 – on the distressed boat had been accounted for, but Morrison said: "We are not in the business of providing information that compromises current or future operational arrangements."
Responding to a question of whether the asylum seekers on the boat would end up in Indonesia or Australia, Morrison replied: "That's not a matter that's been finally determined." He said the operation, which began late on Thursday night, was still ongoing.
"What's important is the people who are the subject of our assistance are all accounted for," the minister said, adding: "I'm sure all Australians will be very pleased to know that's the case."
Despite repeated questioning both Morrison and Campbell refused to provide more details.
Campbell was asked three times in succession for greater detail, replying: "I will not comment further in relation to on-water matters."
Asked directly if the ongoing operation was a standoff, Morrison said: "It's an operational matter that continues to be handled in the way that all of these matters have been since commencement of Operation Sovereign Borders."
Campbell said there had been no suspected "illegal entry" vessels arriving in Australia this week. He said the Operation Sovereign Borders website and YouTube channel had enjoyed a surge in hits which may have helped stem the flow of boats.
The prime minister, Tony Abbott, defended the government's reluctance to offer details of operations at sea, saying the important thing was to stop the boats.
"The best way to stop the boats is to ensure ... we are not providing a shipping news service for people smugglers," he said.
The Coalition's relative silence on the matter has drawn criticism from opposition politicians.
The ALP's immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, said Morrison was treating the Australian public with "contempt", labelling the Operation Sovereign Border briefings as "farce".
"Australians have a right to know what is happening – this weekly charade from Scott Morrison has to stop," he said.
"If there is a standoff and our defence forces are being used in this way, then Australians have a right to know."
The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said in the first week of parliament she would be using her power in the Senate to move for an order for production of documents, forcing the government to give details of any boat arrivals, turnbacks or rescue operations as they happened.
"Reports of an incident today appear to have uncovered a botched turnback, but the minister doesn't want anyone to know about it," Hanson-Young said.
"It's clear that Mr Morrison's excuses are starting to wear thin.
"The Greens want to end the secrecy and I am calling on the Labor party to support our move for an open and accountable government."
More than 50 asylum seekers were reported to be the subject of the operation involving Indonesian and Australian authorities, with HMAS Ballarat responding to a distress call from their wooden boat. But reports have described a "mid-ocean standoff" between Indonesia and Australia over where those rescued will be returned.
The immigration and border protection minister, Scott Morrison, denied there was a standoff between Indonesia and Australia over the boat but refused to provide any operational details in relation to the ongoing rescue mission.
But Agus Barnas, a spokesman for Indonesia's minister for legal, political and security affairs, said the boat had been in working order when the Australian naval vessel approached it.
"From what I've been told, the boat was fine and they were not in danger," he said. "If that's the case, then we reject it.
"We don't want Indonesia to be a dumping ground, but we don't want Australia to accuse us of not doing anything. We want to respect Australia.
"At least for the time being we will not accept them."
Indonesia's foreign minister, Dr Marty Natalegawa, also foreshadowed that Jakarta would no longer take back asylum seekers unless they were in imminent danger.
"In the case where there is no safety-at-sea issue, where the people are fine, the boat is not sinking, does Indonesia feel an obligation or not to take people from those Australian vessels?" Natalegawa said on Friday.
"Then the question is under what circumstance are we bringing them to Indonesia? There wouldn't be any apparent need for them to be brought back to Indonesia."
Morrison and Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, confirmed that all asylums seekers – understood to be about 56 – on the distressed boat had been accounted for, but Morrison said: "We are not in the business of providing information that compromises current or future operational arrangements."
Responding to a question of whether the asylum seekers on the boat would end up in Indonesia or Australia, Morrison replied: "That's not a matter that's been finally determined." He said the operation, which began late on Thursday night, was still ongoing.
"What's important is the people who are the subject of our assistance are all accounted for," the minister said, adding: "I'm sure all Australians will be very pleased to know that's the case."
Despite repeated questioning both Morrison and Campbell refused to provide more details.
Campbell was asked three times in succession for greater detail, replying: "I will not comment further in relation to on-water matters."
Asked directly if the ongoing operation was a standoff, Morrison said: "It's an operational matter that continues to be handled in the way that all of these matters have been since commencement of Operation Sovereign Borders."
Campbell said there had been no suspected "illegal entry" vessels arriving in Australia this week. He said the Operation Sovereign Borders website and YouTube channel had enjoyed a surge in hits which may have helped stem the flow of boats.
The prime minister, Tony Abbott, defended the government's reluctance to offer details of operations at sea, saying the important thing was to stop the boats.
"The best way to stop the boats is to ensure ... we are not providing a shipping news service for people smugglers," he said.
The Coalition's relative silence on the matter has drawn criticism from opposition politicians.
The ALP's immigration spokesman, Richard Marles, said Morrison was treating the Australian public with "contempt", labelling the Operation Sovereign Border briefings as "farce".
"Australians have a right to know what is happening – this weekly charade from Scott Morrison has to stop," he said.
"If there is a standoff and our defence forces are being used in this way, then Australians have a right to know."
The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young said in the first week of parliament she would be using her power in the Senate to move for an order for production of documents, forcing the government to give details of any boat arrivals, turnbacks or rescue operations as they happened.
"Reports of an incident today appear to have uncovered a botched turnback, but the minister doesn't want anyone to know about it," Hanson-Young said.
"It's clear that Mr Morrison's excuses are starting to wear thin.
"The Greens want to end the secrecy and I am calling on the Labor party to support our move for an open and accountable government."
No comments:
Post a Comment