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Indonesia seeks answers on claims Australia paid traffickers to turn back Indonesia seeks answers on claims Australian navy paid people smugglers
(about 4 hours later)
Indonesia has asked Australia’s ambassador to explain claims that the country’s navy paid people sumgglers $US5,000 each to take their boat carrying 65 refugees back into Indonesian waters. Indonesia has asked Australia’s ambassador to explain claims that the country’s navy paid people smugglers $US5,000 each to take their boat carrying 65 refugees back into Indonesian waters.
The Jakarta government has accused Canberra of stooping to a “new low” if the claims made by the boat’s captain and two crew members turn out to be true.The Jakarta government has accused Canberra of stooping to a “new low” if the claims made by the boat’s captain and two crew members turn out to be true.
The Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, who won power partly on a promise to stop asylum seeker boats from coming to Australia, has not denied the reports.The Australian prime minister, Tony Abbott, who won power partly on a promise to stop asylum seeker boats from coming to Australia, has not denied the reports.
Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said she approached Paul Grigson – who has just returned to Indonesia after his withdrawal over the execution of two Australian citizens in April – at a conference in Jakarta on Saturday.Indonesian foreign minister Retno Marsudi said she approached Paul Grigson – who has just returned to Indonesia after his withdrawal over the execution of two Australian citizens in April – at a conference in Jakarta on Saturday.
She told him Indonesia were “really concerned” about the claims, which emerged after the people smugglers were arrested this week on suspicion of human trafficking. They told Indonesian police that Australian authorities had paid each of them $US5,000 ($A6450) to turn back their vessel with 65 migrants on board.She told him Indonesia were “really concerned” about the claims, which emerged after the people smugglers were arrested this week on suspicion of human trafficking. They told Indonesian police that Australian authorities had paid each of them $US5,000 ($A6450) to turn back their vessel with 65 migrants on board.
“I just asked him what is it about, tell me what is it about,” she told reporters.“I just asked him what is it about, tell me what is it about,” she told reporters.
“He promised to take my inquiry, my questions, to Canberra and he promised to get back to me again.”“He promised to take my inquiry, my questions, to Canberra and he promised to get back to me again.”
Indonesia is conducting its own investigation into the claims.Indonesia is conducting its own investigation into the claims.
Jakarta’s next move would depend on the outcome of the investigations and inquiries with the ambassador, she said.Jakarta’s next move would depend on the outcome of the investigations and inquiries with the ambassador, she said.
“I made use of the opportunity to talk to him directly because we are really concerned, if it is confirmed,” she said.“I made use of the opportunity to talk to him directly because we are really concerned, if it is confirmed,” she said.
Two senior Australian ministers have denied the claim but Abbott has not.Two senior Australian ministers have denied the claim but Abbott has not.
An Indonesian government official said Australia would have stooped to a “new low” if the reports are true.An Indonesian government official said Australia would have stooped to a “new low” if the reports are true.
“Under Australian’s push-back policy we have been consistently saying they are on a slippery slope,” Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir said.“Under Australian’s push-back policy we have been consistently saying they are on a slippery slope,” Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir said.
“Should this situation be confirmed and it turns out to be true, it would be a new low for the way the government of Australia handles the situation on irregular migration.”“Should this situation be confirmed and it turns out to be true, it would be a new low for the way the government of Australia handles the situation on irregular migration.”
Nasir said it would be the first time such an incident occurred involving Australian authorities.Nasir said it would be the first time such an incident occurred involving Australian authorities.
Professor of international law at the Australian National University, Don Rothwell, says if proven the activity could be tantamount to people smuggling under current regional protocols.Professor of international law at the Australian National University, Don Rothwell, says if proven the activity could be tantamount to people smuggling under current regional protocols.
“People smuggling is defined with the protocol and to that end the provision of monies to people who are engaged in people-smuggling activities to take persons from a place on the high seas to another place, such as Indonesia, is clearly a people smuggling-type activity,” he told the ABC radio.“People smuggling is defined with the protocol and to that end the provision of monies to people who are engaged in people-smuggling activities to take persons from a place on the high seas to another place, such as Indonesia, is clearly a people smuggling-type activity,” he told the ABC radio.
He said the claims also raised questions because Australia was a party to the 2000 protocol to disrupt people smuggling.He said the claims also raised questions because Australia was a party to the 2000 protocol to disrupt people smuggling.
Abbott did not deny the allegations in a radio interview but he did say officials were being “incredibly creative” in following Australia’s policy to turn back the boats.Abbott did not deny the allegations in a radio interview but he did say officials were being “incredibly creative” in following Australia’s policy to turn back the boats.
“What we do is stop the boats by hook or by crook,” he said.“What we do is stop the boats by hook or by crook,” he said.
“We have stopped the trade and we will do what we have to do to ensure that it stays stopped.”“We have stopped the trade and we will do what we have to do to ensure that it stays stopped.”
The opposition Labor party has called on Abbott to emphatically deny people smugglers were paid to turn back asylum seeker boats.The opposition Labor party has called on Abbott to emphatically deny people smugglers were paid to turn back asylum seeker boats.
Labor’s immigration spokesman Richard Marles said Abbott’s refusal to deny the practice had left the door wide open to the idea the government was handing wads of taxpayer’s cash to smugglers.Labor’s immigration spokesman Richard Marles said Abbott’s refusal to deny the practice had left the door wide open to the idea the government was handing wads of taxpayer’s cash to smugglers.
“Really it leaves one with the only possible assumption that that may well have been exactly what happened,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.“Really it leaves one with the only possible assumption that that may well have been exactly what happened,” he told reporters in Melbourne on Saturday.
(Australian Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report)(Australian Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report)