Over 40 asylum seekers rescued

6 February 2010 08:33 am - 8 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Australian Refugee Action Coalition says 45 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers are being rescued from a boat drifting near Christmas Island, ABC News reported.

Refugee activists alerted border protection authorities about the boat after receiving distress calls from those on board this afternoon (Saturday).

Refugee Action Coalition Spokesman Ian Rintoul says the asylum seekers will now be taken to Christmas Island for processing.

"They'd left from Sri Lanka on the 20th of January I was told, but have now run out of fuel and the boat's drifting," he said.

"They'd been without food or water for the last four days and people are quite sick. There are a couple of cases of chicken pox and diarrhoea."

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Comments - 8

Saturday, 06 February 2010 09:08 AM

They are Tamils from TN on transit through Malaysia.
Trying to reach western shores under the pretext of being Sri Lankan refugees.

Saturday, 06 February 2010 11:12 AM

Send those Bogus ( Economic ) Asylum-Seekers back !.

Saturday, 06 February 2010 11:20 AM

Thank You Australia, Keep them. They are Commercial immigrants... not refugees..
They will create a Elam in Aus Land soon

Saturday, 06 February 2010 11:21 AM

Very good news. Like the English they are a sea fairing nation ! Foreign NGOs must respect the rights of these people and provide these groups with good boats, food and equipment .

Saturday, 06 February 2010 11:24 AM

Send all of them to Australia!!!!

The eelam is there now, take it from them...

Saturday, 06 February 2010 07:07 PM

Another set of economic refugees to jump the queue or fleeing Tamil Tigers to avoid being arrested and charged.

Sunday, 07 February 2010 04:25 AM

wow.......another permanant resident visas.....why all the boat people get pr....hey guys buy a trawler and go to aussie waters..they welcomes you

Sunday, 07 February 2010 11:34 PM

Have you guys read the comments above. It is all racist. This si the reason why Sri Lanka is unlivable for these people. Look at what happened in the North East. We could blame the LTTE but how much of that is also our fault. We put them in camps but didn't give them transportation to go vote, essentially disenfranchising them and then all of you have the audacity to say they are economic refugees, etc. Elections might have happened after they left but what happened with the voting shows our callous attitude towards minority rights.

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Over 40 asylum seekers rescued

Comments - 8

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