Australian navy intercepts suspected refugees

Source: Agencies | March 15, 2009, Sunday |

Online Edition

AUSTRALIA'S navy detained 54 suspected asylum seekers found on a boat off the north coast, officials said today.

The boat was intercepted last night off the Northern Territory's remote Coburg Peninsula, northeast of Darwin, Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus said. It is suspected of entering Australian waters illegally.

The group was taken to Christmas Island, a remote Australian territory in the Indian Ocean where the government runs an immigration detention camp, for security and identity checks, Debus said. The people's nationalities were not immediately known.

"The Australian government is committed to strong border security arrangements and is determined to deal effectively and appropriately with people smugglers," Debus said.

Australia has long been a destination for people from poor, often war-ravaged countries hoping to start a new life. Most of the refugees - many from Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka - travel to Australia on cramped, barely seaworthy boats from Indonesia.

World

About Us
|
Terms of Use
|
RSS
|
Privacy Policy
|
Contact Us
|
Shanghai Call Center: 962288
|
Tip-off hotline: 52920043

沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
|
互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
|
网络视听许可证：0909346
|
广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
|
增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012

Australian navy intercepts suspected refugees

Email this to your friend