Details around Australian officials allegedly paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to return to Indonesia are rapidly emerging, with both Indonesian authorities and the UN criticising Australia’s actions.
Australian officials sent the 65 asylum seekers on “a suicide mission” with barely enough fuel to make it back to Indonesia, according to the head of the people smuggling division of Nusa Tengarra Timur province, Mr Ibriham. “Where’s the humanity?”
Indonesian officials allege the asylum seekers and people smugglers were sent back on two wooden boats (not the boat originally on its way to New Zealand), with one drum of fuel each (200 litres), limited food and water, and a laminated map of the Rote Island.
According to multiple accounts, one boat, the Jasmine, ran out of fuel several hours later, and the people on board transferred to the second boat, Kanak.
The Kanak hit a reef near Landu Island and was stranded, with the passengers forced to be rescued by local villagers. Ibrahim said that if the boat had hit the reef at high tide, instead of low tide, it would have been far too dangerous for the villagers to attempt a rescue.
People smuggling boat captain provides more details in interview
The captain of the people smuggling boat, Yohanis Humiagn, described the terrifying conditions in an extensive interview conducted by Mr Sunjaya in front of media, saying that not only did the boats have limited fuel, but that they were unseaworthy, had no toilets, and no navigational system other than a GPS, which was “of no help because it won’t tell reef conditions.”
He said the Australian authorities “didn’t care” when the Jasmine ran out of fuel, despite still being there when it happened.
“Panic ensued among the passengers onboard, it was like in an emergency situation, they were going to kill each other. At the time I was scared. What to do?”
An Australian official by the name of Agus – whose face Mr Yohanis says shows “he’s Australian mixed with Indonesian” – organised the cash payment, according to reports. Mr Yohanis says he said to Agus:
“Sir, our situation, we are trying to earn a living, as crew, we have nothing. If you take us, we don’t have any money.”
Mr Yohanis alleges that they initially agreed to return by plane. When they arrived at Greenhill Island in the Northern Territory, via escort from the Australian ships, they had their photos taken and identities recorded.
“Agus then came from the navy ship and told us, to our surprise, that we have to go back by boat to Indonesia. We were very scared, some of the crew said they can’t do it, and I said I can’t work alone, I can’t do it, we can’t do it. But he said there’s no other option, you have to go back. Mentally we were so helpless, we can’t do anything else.”
After being kept “like we were in jail” overnight, they started the treacherous journey back to Indonesia.
Indonesian officials slam alleged cash payments
Meanwhile, Indonesian officials have slammed Australia’s alleged paying of cash, saying that it amounts to bribery and opens up new avenues for crime.
Photos of thousands of US dollars have been provided to the ABC by Indonesia police, which they claim to be the cash paid, as well as a photo of one of the wooden boats. (You can see these photos HERE.)
“The money was given with one condition: they go back to Indonesia, use the money for business and never do that kind of work ever again,” said Mr Ibriham.
It is now being kept as evidence, according to General Edang. This contradicts earlier reports from police chief on Rote Island, Mr Hidayat, saying that the money was sent to the crew’s families, although it is possible both reports are correct and the money was simply returned.
“We have given you the evidence. It’s now up to you and other organisations to demand na answer from the Australian government,” said General Endang Sunjaya, the police chief of Nusa Tenggara Timur province.
Australian government responds, in a manner of speaking
Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop has rolled out the usual line of “the Australian government does not comment on operational and security matters,” while Immigration Minister Peter Dutton hasn’t commented.
Last Friday, PM Tony Abbott avoided confirming or denying the allegations, saying instead: “What we do is stop the boats by hook or by crook.” Which amounts to: we’ll stop ’em by any means possible. There’s also reports that the previous Labor government may be in just as deep as the current one.
If reports are true and the alleged money exchange took place on the people smugglers’ boat, the Andika, then the payments may be subject to Australian law.
The Senate has passed a motion calling on the Australian government to produce documents relating to the alleged cash exchange by 3pm today.
Leader of the Greens Richard Di Natale has spoken out against the alleged bribery.
.@RichardDiNatale: We have crossed a line. We are now engaging in the people trafficking business #auspol #asylumseekers
— ABC News 24 (@ABCNews24) June 16, 2015
Offering refugees protection is a sign of strength, not weakness. @PeterDrewArts pic.twitter.com/vFH74YITjo
— Richard Di Natale (@RichardDiNatale) June 17, 2015
A protest against Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers is currently underway in Parliament House:
Protest in Parliament House #asylumseekers pic.twitter.com/EyAsujxASs
— Karen Barlow (@KJBar) June 17, 2015
It’s being organised by Love Makes A Way, a religious group acting to end our inhumane asylum seeker policies.
#BREAKING #LoveMakesAWay is in Parliament House asking for a change of heart on #asylumseekers #auspol pic.twitter.com/FauUWY1swA
— Love Makes A Way (@lovemakesaway) June 17, 2015
United Nations slams Australia’s asylum seeker policy
The United Nations high commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has slammed Australia’s asylum seeker policies, telling the human rights council in Geneva that both turning back asylum seeker vessels at sea and detaining asylum seekers on Nauru and Manus Island are bewildering and contemptuous policies.
“Aslym seekers are incarcerated in centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru, where they face conditions that the special rapporteur on torture has reported as amounting to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”
“Such policies should not be considered a model by any country. Given that most of today’s Australians themselves descend from migrants – and given that the country maintains sizeable regular programs for migration and resettlement – I am bewildered by the hostility and contempt for these women, men and children that is so widespread among the country’s politicians.”
Video project shows Australian children sympathetic towards asylum seekers
A video project called ‘How Do Australian Kids Feel About Refugees’ has shown that Aussie kids are more sympathetic than the people in charge of this country towards refugees.
When asked ‘What is an asylum seeker?’ one child answered: “People who run away from evil.”
Another expressed concern for those in detention centres. “If I was in a detention centre, I would feel scared and worried,” said seven-year-old Liam.
There’s hope for our country yet.
Image: Scott Fisher via Getty Images
via SMH / ABC / The Guardian / Crosslight
