A tragedy was unfolding in the Indian
Ocean today as searchers found 13 bodies, with another 50 people
missing from a sunken asylum-seeker boat.
The
group had been sailing from Indonesia to Christmas Island, which is in
Australian territory, when their leaky fishing vessel came to grief.
Its upturned hull, surrounded by debris, was found - before several of the bodies were located.
Many asylum seekers hope for a better life in
Australia and surrounding territories - sometimes with devastating
consequences. This boat was driven on to the rocks surrounding Christmas
Island in December 2010
While most of those on board
were men, the passengers who had set out looking for a new life in
Australia included women and children.
'This
is another terrible tragedy - another terrible reminder how dangerous
these journeys are,' said Australia's Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare.
He
said in Canberra today that at least 55 people had been seen by a
border patrol aircraft on the deck of the vessel last Wednesday, some 28
miles north west of Christmas Island.
Opposition border protection
spokesman Michael Keenan repeated Mr Clare's view, telling Sky News
today: 'This is another terrible human tragedy.'
A navy ship, HMAS Warramunga was sent to the area until the boat's submerged hull was spotted by an Air Force plane some 65 miles north west of Christmas Island.
What has been described as a 'debris field' - including lifejackets - was found.
At least 27 people died when this boat was smashed against rocks by the waves off of Christmas Island in 2010
Then as night fell, a body was seen from the air, but the crew of the naval ship were unable to find it.
With
two merchant vessels answering the call for assistance, nine bodies
were found on Saturday and by today a total of 13 bodies had been
located, but none had yet been recovered from the water.
Mr Clare said that when the vessel was first spotted on Wednesday it did not appear to be in distress.
But
whenever asylum seeker boats are located, naval vessels are sent out to
escort them to Christmas Island where the passengers - mostly from
Iraq, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka - are questioned about their
backgrounds.
On this occasion, the navy ship was unable to locate the boat and the search for more bodies was continuing throughout today.
Meanwhile
a distress call has been received by a second boat some 110 miles north
of Christmas Island. Aircraft and rescue vessels were heading to the
area.
The asylum seeker
debate - sparked by the Labour Government's 'open door' policy in
contrast to the tough stance of the previous Liberal government of John
Howard - has made Prime Minister Julia Gillard unpopular among many
Australians.
Tens of
thousands have reached Australian territory since the Labour government
came to power in 2007 - since the beginning of 2013 more than 11,300
asylum seekers have reached Australia, 660 arriving in the first week of
June alone.
The asylum seeker controversy is expected to be a major issue in the September general election.
Opinion polls indicate that Labour is heading for a landslide defeat.
DAILYMAIL
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