![\"By](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/ByHookOrByCrook5.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/JadedQldWeekly1Sm.jpg?resize=163%2C163\")
<\/a><\/h6>\n(Jump to comments section)<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction.<\/a><\/h6>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra.<\/a><\/h6>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia.<\/a><\/h6>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law.<\/a><\/h6>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial.<\/a><\/h6>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’.<\/a><\/h6>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime.<\/a><\/h6>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives.<\/a><\/h6>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 20, 2015) – Counter allegations.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 19, 2015) – Justifying paying people smugglers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 18, 2015) – International waters intercept.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 17, 2015) – Show us the Benjamins.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 16, 2015) – Stop the bribes.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 15, 2015) – Conspiracy theories.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n![\"Major](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/AndrewBottrellSenateInquiry.jpg?resize=190%2C105\")
<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/DoneWhatItTakes.jpg?resize=190%2C104\")
<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Immigration](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/AmnestyIdeologicalAttack.jpg?resize=190%2C106\")
<\/a>Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"ABC](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/AmnestyReportBishopDutton.jpg?resize=190%2C105\")
<\/a>ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"ABC](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/NewBoatDampier.jpg?resize=190%2C108\")
<\/a>ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Introduction.<\/a><\/h6>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra.<\/a><\/h6>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia.<\/a><\/h6>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law.<\/a><\/h6>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial.<\/a><\/h6>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’.<\/a><\/h6>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime.<\/a><\/h6>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives.<\/a><\/h6>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 20, 2015) – Counter allegations.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 19, 2015) – Justifying paying people smugglers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 18, 2015) – International waters intercept.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 17, 2015) – Show us the Benjamins.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 16, 2015) – Stop the bribes.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 15, 2015) – Conspiracy theories.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia.<\/a><\/h6>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law.<\/a><\/h6>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial.<\/a><\/h6>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’.<\/a><\/h6>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime.<\/a><\/h6>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives.<\/a><\/h6>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 20, 2015) – Counter allegations.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 19, 2015) – Justifying paying people smugglers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 18, 2015) – International waters intercept.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 17, 2015) – Show us the Benjamins.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 16, 2015) – Stop the bribes.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 15, 2015) – Conspiracy theories.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial.<\/a><\/h6>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’.<\/a><\/h6>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime.<\/a><\/h6>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives.<\/a><\/h6>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 20, 2015) – Counter allegations.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 19, 2015) – Justifying paying people smugglers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 18, 2015) – International waters intercept.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 17, 2015) – Show us the Benjamins.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 16, 2015) – Stop the bribes.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 15, 2015) – Conspiracy theories.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime.<\/a><\/h6>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives.<\/a><\/h6>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 20, 2015) – Counter allegations.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 19, 2015) – Justifying paying people smugglers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 18, 2015) – International waters intercept.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 17, 2015) – Show us the Benjamins.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 16, 2015) – Stop the bribes.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 15, 2015) – Conspiracy theories.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 20, 2015) – Counter allegations.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 19, 2015) – Justifying paying people smugglers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 18, 2015) – International waters intercept.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 17, 2015) – Show us the Benjamins.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 16, 2015) – Stop the bribes.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 15, 2015) – Conspiracy theories.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(June 20, 2015) – Counter allegations.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 19, 2015) – Justifying paying people smugglers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 18, 2015) – International waters intercept.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 17, 2015) – Show us the Benjamins.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 16, 2015) – Stop the bribes.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 15, 2015) – Conspiracy theories.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(June 18, 2015) – International waters intercept.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 17, 2015) – Show us the Benjamins.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 16, 2015) – Stop the bribes.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 15, 2015) – Conspiracy theories.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(June 16, 2015) – Stop the bribes.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 15, 2015) – Conspiracy theories.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(June 14, 2015) – Still stopping the boats.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 13, 2015) – Indonesia demands answers.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(June 12, 2015) – By hook or by crook.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 11, 2015) – AFP to investigate.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(June 10, 2015) – Immigration Minister denies payments.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 8, 2015) – Cash for turnbacks.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(June 3, 2015) – Australian Navy turns back boat.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 2, 2015) – Shipwreck off Rote Island confirmed.<\/a><\/h6>\n(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
(June 1, 2015) – First media reports.<\/a><\/h6>\n(May 2, 2015) – Report of a boat.<\/a><\/h6>\nIntroduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\nInitially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\nThe New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\nAs per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\nThe inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n<\/a>Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n
\n- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “The operational commander of Australian Border Force will face questions from the Senate on Friday on whether the Australian government paid Indonesian people smugglers more than $30,000 to turn their boat around.”: Border Force head to face questions on alleged payment to people smugglers.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “The boat was stocked with provisions and the crew was skilled. When Australian officials boarded, the vessel was not in distress, and had not asked for help. Authorities mistreated the passengers, then handed over $US32,000 ($A44,500) to make the problem go away. Or perhaps the boat was in desperate straits and called for help. The weather was rough and forecast to worsen; without help, the occupants may have died. Australian officials boarded and kept everyone safe. Money may or may not have changed hands. These are two conflicting accounts by asylum seekers and the government of what occurred on the high seas in May last year, when passengers and Indonesian police claim Australian officials bribed the crew of a boat of asylum seekers to return to Indonesia.”: Conflicting stories at cash-for-turnbacks inquiry.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\nTrial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n\n- Guardian Australia<\/a> reported, “The captain of an asylum-seeker boat allegedly intercepted by the Australian navy has told a court how he negotiated a hefty payment to take the migrants back to Indonesia to avoid going home \u201cempty-handed\u201d. The Indonesian captain, Yohanis Humiang, 35, is on trial charged with people-smuggling after Australian officials allegedly stopped his boat in May and paid him and his crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia.”: Indonesian captain makes US$32,000 deal to return asylum seekers, court hears.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n<\/a>Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\nAlleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a> and Amilia Rosa reported, “Rote Island: More than $US30,000 ($42,000) allegedly paid to people smugglers by Australian officials to return their boat to Indonesia will not be presented as evidence in the men’s trial. An Indonesian police investigation in June found six crew members had been paid between $US5000 and $US6000 to turn back 65 asylum seekers headed for New Zealand. The prosecution had wanted to present “alleged bribery money from the Australian government” in court as further evidence of people-smuggling, but Prosecutor Alexander Sele said the police had insisted the crew had not committed a crime when they accepted the payments from the Australian officials.”: People smuggler cash scandal: Alleged payments will not be evidence in trial.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\nImmigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n\n- James Massola<\/a> and Latika Bourke<\/a> reported, “Liberal elder Philip Ruddock has distanced himself from Immigration Minister Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International, saying he has “a lot of time” for the human rights organisation. Mr Ruddock is the longest-serving MP in Parliament and a long-time supporter of Amnesty, despite being at odds with it during his own stint as immigration minister in the Howard government and at one point being asked to stop wearing his Amnesty lapel badge.”: Peter Dutton’s attack on Amnesty International draws fire from his own side.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\nAmnesty reports<\/h3>\n\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “On 5 May 2015, a boat departed Pelabuhan Ratu in Indonesia, with the aim of reaching New Zealand. On board were six crew and 65 passengers. The passengers, who were from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar, included 58 men, four women (one of whom was pregnant), two seven-year-old children, and a one-year-old child. All of the adult passengers described themselves as asylum-seekers. They had paid unnamed private individuals an
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\n- Amnesty Australia<\/a> reported, “Our new report, By Hook or By Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea, reveals damning evidence of Australian officials paying boat crews to return people seeking asylum to Indonesia and abusive treatment of the women, men and children on board.”: Report: Evidence of public officials\u2019 involvement in criminal activity.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Amnesty Australia<\/a> wrote, “Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling.”: Demand a Royal Commission into Operation Sovereign Borders.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Government denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n\n- Michelle Grattan<\/a> wrote, “An Amnesty International investigation has found Australian officials may have paid money to the crew of a boat intercepted in July \u2013 which would be the second such alleged incident. The claim of a possible second payment comes as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said the pregnant Somali woman known as Abyan, who sought an abortion after she was allegedly raped on Nauru, is being brought to Australia a second time. As publicity centres on Nauru, its government has lashed out at the Australian media, accusing it of \u201can air of racial superiority\u201d.”: Amnesty alleges criminal activity in border control.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Shalailah Medhora<\/a> reported, “The federal government will not be \u201cbullied\u201d into watering down its hardline border protection policies by advocates such as Amnesty International, the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, said, after the human rights group criticised border force staff for paying people smugglers to turn asylum boats around.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.”: Coalition will not be ‘bullied’ on border protection, says Peter Dutton.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Karen Barlow<\/a> reported, “Canberra — A new report by Amnesty International has accused Australian border officials of improperly detaining and roughly handling asylum seekers, while alleging intelligence officials may have been involved in transnational crime by allegedly paying off people smugglers. The report \u201cBy Hook or by Crook- Australia\u2019s Abuse of Asylum Seekers at Sea\u201d, released overnight, further investigates allegations raised in June this year that, in May, Australian officials paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat more than US$30,000 to take it back to Indonesia.”: Amnesty report: New claims of asylum seeker ‘ill-treatment’.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Ben Doherty<\/a> reported, “Australian government officials may have engaged in people smuggling, by allegedly paying the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return its passengers to Indonesia, an Amnesty International investigation has found. In May this year, the 65 passengers and six crew of an asylum seeker boat bound for New Zealand said they were intercepted by an Australian naval ship and an Australian Border Force vessel in international waters.”: Australian officials paid asylum seeker boat crew, Amnesty investigation alleges.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Mark Rivett-Carnac<\/a> reported, “The Australian government broke international law by paying people smugglers thousands of dollars to tow boats filled with asylum seekers away from its shores, according to new report by Amnesty International. The human-rights group investigated incidents from May and July when migrant boats were turned away from Australia and returned to Indonesia. In both occasions, Amnesty claims asylum seekers\u2019 lives were endangered.”: Australia paid people smugglers to tow away migrant boats, finds Amnesty investigation.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n
New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n\n- Otago Daily Times reported, “Evidence strongly suggests that Australian officials paid people smugglers who were heading for New Zealand in a boat with asylum seekers to turn back to Indonesia, Amnesty International says. Labour today called on Prime Minister John Key to confirm that New Zealand had no knowledge of the payments, or was in any way involved, while the Greens want him to rule out supporting Australia’s bid for a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council. “: PM pressed over people smuggling claim.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a>, Amilia Rosa and Jane Lee<\/a> reported, “Jakarta: A member of President Joko Widodo’s ruling party has called on the Indonesian government to “send a strong protest” after a report found Australian officials paid people smugglers to return to Indonesia. Charles Honoris\u200b, a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives, also renewed calls for Australia to abandon its controversial boat push-back policy and said he hoped the Australian government would be more transparent under the new Prime Minister.”: People-smuggler cash scandal: Indonesian MP calls for Australia to abandon push-back policy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\nSaved by cash<\/h3>\n\n- Nicole Hasham<\/a> reported, “Border officials saved the lives of asylum seekers on a boat whose crew was allegedly paid to return to Indonesia, the head of Australia’s border security operations has revealed, saying the vessel was struggling in bad weather and called for help. The statement by Major General Andrew Bottrell\u200b indirectly refutes claims by Indonesian police that Australian authorities sent the distressed boat back on a “suicide mission”.”: Border officials saved lives of asylum seekers on boat they allegedly paid to turn back, says Operation Sovereign Borders commander.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\nOffence under Australian law<\/h3>\n\n- Paul Farrell<\/a> reported, “A request made by a Greens senator to the Australian federal police to investigate allegations that people smugglers were paid by Australian officials was regarded by the AFP as an essential priority, documents show.”: Claims Australia paid people smugglers seen as ‘essential priority’ by police.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n\n- Calla Wahlquist<\/a> reported, “A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australia. The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. The tanker was monitoring an oil rig operated by engineering company Modec on the north-west shelf, about 78 nautical miles, or 145km, from the coast. Gary Kennedy, Modec\u2019s operations manager in Australia, told Guardian Australia that the crew of the tanker noticed the small boat when it went inside the 500 metre exclusion zone around the oil rig.”: Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/a>
ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n
.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\nBreaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n\n- Jewel Topsfield<\/a>, Karuni Rompies<\/a> and Sarah Whyte<\/a> reported, “The Australian Senate will launch an inquiry into the alleged payments to people smugglers after the Abbott government refused to hand over documents into the claims, citing “public interest immunity”. The inquiry, supported by Labor, will require the government to declare whether any Australian official paid money to anyone on board a vessel from September 2013. If the allegations are true, it will also demand information on who authorised the payments and whether they were legal under both domestic and international law. The vote comes as Indonesia accused Australia of breaching an agreement on defence, intelligence and border security if it paid people smugglers to return asylum seekers to Indonesia.”: Senate to launch inquiry into people smuggler payment claims.<\/a><\/li>\n
- Radio New Zealand<\/a> reported, “The Senate has voted to establish a parliamentary inquiry into payments made by Australian government officials to boat crew members and people traffickers. The inquiry was moved by the Greens after the Australian government refused to comply with an Order to Produce Documents and will report back to the Senate in September.”: Australian govt faces inquiry into “bribe” payments.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\nI was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n— Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Introduction<\/h2>\n
This blog is to collate the media reports surrounding the wrecking of two asylum seekers boats on a reef off Rote Island, Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A boat having been engaged by Border Protection was reported on May 2, 2015 by The West Australian<\/em>.<\/a> Claims emerged weeks later that the people smuggler crew had been stopped by Australia officials and paid cash to take their human cargo back to Indonesia in two new boats on May 26, 2015.<\/a> The first media reports of the shipwreck began to emerge from June, 1, 2015.<\/p>\n Initially, the Australia Immigration Minister Peter Dutton<\/a> and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop<\/a> denied cash was paid. However, the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott<\/a> refused to confirm or deny the event had taken place citing “operational matters”. It was a surprising revelation as up until this point the Abbott Government had refused to comment on operations at sea involving asylum seeker boats. It appeared two ministers had broken that policy.<\/p>\n The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key<\/a> later confirmed that the original boat’s destination was his country. Reports also surfaced that the boat was in international waters when stopped by Australia.<\/p>\n As per Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 73<\/a>, people smuggling is illegal and carries a penalty of gaol or 1,000 penalty units or both. However, proceedings against a perpetrator cannot commence without the Attorney-General’s consent.<\/a><\/p>\n .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Major General Andrew Bottrell pleads public interest immunity to avoid questions from Senators Sarah Hanson-Young and Katy Gallagher.<\/p><\/div>\n .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Peter Dutton tells ABC Insiders’ Barry Cassidy that the government has done what it takes to stop the boats.<\/p><\/div>\n .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty has launched an ‘ideological attack’ on the Australian Government.<\/p><\/div>\n .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n ABC News: FM Julie Bishop & Peter Dutton reject Amnesty claim of transnational crime.<\/p><\/div>\n .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n ABC News: A new asylum seeker boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia.<\/p><\/div>\n .<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n I was right! Govt breaches 2014 Lombok agreement with Indonesia by #cashforturnbacks<\/a> http:\/\/t.co\/Pmgax8QGmG<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/Xop40jc2sG<\/a><\/p>\n — Margo Kingston (@margokingston1) June 24, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n(February 5, 2016) – Senate inquiry, Canberra<\/h2>\n
The inquiry called for on June 24, 2015, begins<\/h3>\n
<\/a>\n
(December 2, 2015) – Court proceedings, Indonesia<\/h2>\n
Trial of Captain Yohanis Humiang<\/h3>\n
\n
(November 8, 2015) – Government operates within the law<\/h2>\n
‘We’ve done what it takes to stop the boats’<\/h3>\n
<\/a>(November 5, 2015) – People smugglers go on trial<\/h2>\n
Alleged payments will not be evidence<\/h3>\n
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(October 30, 2015) – Amnesty’s ‘ideological attack’<\/h2>\n
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton claims Amnesty bullying government<\/h3>\n
\n
<\/a>(October 29, 2015) – Amnesty concludes transnational crime<\/h2>\n
Amnesty reports<\/h3>\n
\n
\naverage of 4,000 USD for the voyage. “: By Hook or By Crook.<\/a><\/li>\nGovernment denies engaging in people smuggling<\/h3>\n
\n
<\/a>New Zealand pressed to confirm no involvement<\/h3>\n
\n
Indonesia calls for end of push-back policy<\/h3>\n
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(August 6, 2015) – Saving lives<\/h2>\n
Saved by cash<\/h3>\n
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(July 20, 2015) – AFP essential priority<\/h2>\n
Offence under Australian law<\/h3>\n
\n
New boat arrives off Dampier, Western Australia<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>(June 24, 2015) – Senate inquiry to launch<\/h2>\n
Breaking the Lombok agreement<\/h3>\n
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