Wednesday, 9 June 2010

Oceanic Viking in new asylum seeker drama

as was posted here ... Oceanic Viking in new asylum seeker drama

THE Customs boat at the centre of a diplomatic stand-off with Indonesia last year has rescued more asylum seekers bound for Australia.

The Oceanic Viking yesterday picked up 35 asylum seekers and two crew on a boat spotted south west of Scott Reef.

The passengers will be transferred to Christmas Island.

The Oceanic Viking made international news when 78 Sri Lankan refugees refused to get off it in Indonesia, triggering a stalemate between Indonesia and Australia. The government was eventually forced to offer rapid resettlement to all refugees on board to coax them off the boat.

Australia, New Zealand and the US were among countries to resettle the refugees. Four are still detained on Christmas Island after receiving adverse security assessments by ASIO.

Yuko Narushima

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