Asia-Pacific News
Sri Lankans seek asylum in Australia
Feb 22, 2007, 7:59 GMT
Sydney - The Australian navy Thursday intercepted a boatload of 85 male Sri Lankan asylum seekers heading for Australia's Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island.
Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews said the Sri Lankans had been taken on board HMAS Success some 50 nautical miles off Christmas Island.
'During subsequent contact between HMAS Success and those on the boat, it was determined that their vessel was unseaworthy,' Andrews said in a statement. 'This group will remain on board HMAS Success until more details are available.'
Australia is building a new detention centre on Christmas Island, which will be able to hold up to 800 detainees when it opens later this year.
The likelihood is that the Sri Lankans will be shipped to the South Pacific nation of Nauru, where Australia maintains an offshore immigration detention centre that is now home to eight Burmese seeking asylum in Australia.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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