Transcript E&OE
27 October 2009
Interview - ABC "AM" Program, with Tony Eastley
Subject: Asylum seekers
Alexandra Kirk: The Australian customs ship, the Oceanic Viking, remains off the Indonesian coast, not far from Singapore with 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers on board.
The Government says bad weather and rough seas prevented immigration officials boarding yesterday. Their job is to start processing the asylum seekers before they're brought ashore and taken to an Australian funded detention centre.
The Foreign Minister Stephen Smith told Alexandra Kirk in Canberra, the plan is for the asylum seekers to be taken ashore by an Indonesian navy patrol boat sometime later today.
STEPHEN SMITH: Subject to inclement weather, because there was inclement weather overnight which stopped further work, subject to that we hope that today, Indonesia time, the process of transporting the 78 asylum seekers off the Oceanic Viking and onto an Indonesian vessel and then subsequently to the Indonesian territory will be effected.
But again, it's operational and it will depend upon safety at sea and other conditions, bearing in mind, of course, that this matter started as a safety at sea rescue operation. And we want to make sure that the final part of that, the embarkation of the Sri Lankans to Indonesian territory, is obviously safe.
Alexandra Kirk: What if the asylum seekers refuse to leave the Oceanic Viking?
STEPHEN SMITH: In all of these matters we need to take it step by step. Officials on board have made it clear to the people on board that they'll be taken off the ship and ...
Alexandra Kirk: And have the asylum seekers agreed to leave the Customs ship?
STEPHEN SMITH: In the end, that'll be a matter for the asylum seekers and the people on board to determine the way in which that is effected. In the end, it is not ultimately a matter for choice for these people, it's a matter for the Australian and the Indonesian Governments to determine. That's what we've been doing, and when these people, as we expect, make a claim for asylum in Indonesia, they'll be processed by the UNHCR - the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - in accordance with their processes.
Alexandra Kirk: The Indonesian police say that they could force, use force to bring the asylum seekers ashore if they resisted. What's the Australian Government told the Indonesian Government about using any force?
STEPHEN SMITH: Well I've said publicly, generally, that we're confident on the basis of the information we have that this will be an orderly and a civilised transfer and we certainly hope that's the case. That goes of course to the conduct of Australian officials, the conduct of Indonesian officials but also to the conduct of the people on board. We would expect there to be a civilised and dignified and orderly transfer, and that's the basis on which I'm proceeding.
Alexandra Kirk: Will the Indonesian navy or police be allowed onboard the Oceanic Viking to escort the asylum seekers?
STEPHEN SMITH: That will be a matter again for the Australian and Indonesian officials on the Oceanic Viking and on the Indonesian vessels to determine.
Alexandra Kirk: They'll be allowed?
STEPHEN SMITH: This is very much now an operational matter. What we're trying to do is to get 78 people who've been rescued at sea from one vessel to Indonesian territory.
That's not a judgement that you or I can make from Canberra. It can only be done operationally on the ground and of course Indonesian and Australian officials are cooperating.
Alexandra Kirk: The 255 Sri Lankan asylum seekers that were taken to Java, they refused to leave their boat. Have they now all disembarked?
STEPHEN SMITH: My most recent advice on that is some have but a large number remain. That's a matter for the Indonesian authorities to determine and to process. The approach which the Indonesian Government has taken on that matter is to essentially wait until the Sri Lankan people on board determine to come off the boat.
Alexandra Kirk: The Foreign Minister Stephen Smith speaking there with Alexandra Kirk in Canberra.
[ENDS]
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