AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2011
VIC:Policy helped sink ship: refugee group
A refugee advocacy group says Australia's inhumane refugee laws have lead to the sinking
of an asylum seeker boat, packed with over 200 people, which sank near Indonesia.
Only 33 people have been rescued since the wooden boat sank off Indonesia's Java island
yesterday.
It's believed those onboard, from Afghanistan, Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, were
headed for Australia.
IAN RINTOUL from the Refugee Action Coalition says Australia's decision to criminalise
people smuggling has played a role in this tragedy.
He says if the federal government is worried about people losing their lives at sea,
they should decriminalise people-smuggling so that the voyages can be planned in open
and seaworthy boats.
AAP RTV jcr/sw
KEYWORD: INDON SHIP RINTOUL (MELBOURNE)
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