GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – A ship loaded with asylum seekers has sunk 107 nautical miles north of Christmas Island, Australia, and rescue workers are looking for 19 missing people while helping the 120-136 survivors (there are conflicting reports on numbers). The accident is the second in Australian waters in one week, with six people dead and 110 survivors from the earlier accident, which was also near Christmas Island, NW of Australia and close to Indonesia.
Today’s sinking fueled six hours of heated debate in the House of Representatives which ended with a motion passed that approves offshore processing. ABC Australia says it is unlikely to pass the upper house, where it will be debated next week.
Links to other sites: Australia Asylum Seeker Resource, Australian Human Rights Commission, Herald Sun, Sydney Morning Herald
