FED: 125 illegal immigrants spark people smuggling concern

AAP General News (Australia)
08-14-1999
FED: 125 illegal immigrants spark people smuggling concern

CHRISTMAS ISLAND, Aug 14 AAP - Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock says the arrival of 125
illegal immigrants near Christmas Island overnight has sparked concern about an increase in
people smuggling.

The immigrants were intercepted on a 30-metre Indonesian style fishing vessel last night.

Customs Minister Amanda Vanstone said immigration officials and an interpreter would fly to
Christmas Island today to interview the immigrants, who include seven women and five children.

Mr Ruddock told Sky News he was concerned about an increase in illegal vessels coming to
Australia.

"I am concerned about the large numbers of arrivals we've had this year on relatively small
boats from Indonesia," he said.

While he would not confirm the latest arrival was part of a people-trafficking ring, he
warned of increased penalties of up to 20 years jail for people found guilty of people
smuggling in Australia.

Mr Ruddock said it was likely some of the detainees would be moved to Port Hedland
Detention Centre, in Western Australia, after immigration officers finished interviewing the
group.

Locals said the immigrants, who appeared to be from the Middle East, were well dressed but
appeared to be seasick and dehydrated.

Mr Ruddock would not confirm where the immigrants were from, but said the group was in good
health.

"I've been told while there are some minor illnesses they are in reasonably good shape," he
said.

Customs officials stopped the boat at 7pm (WST) at Flying Fish Cove near Christmas Island,
an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.

The people on board were last night taken to a sports hall on the island where they were to
be interviewed by immigration officials throughout the day.

Australian Federal Police officials said all the people on the boat had been processed and
a search of the vessel was under way.

The owner of Christmas Island's Rumah Tinggi Tavern and Restaurant, Dennis Hardie, said
many of the town's population of about 1,500 had been mobilised to help care for the arrivals
and prepare food.

The arrival of the boatpeople comes after Prime Minister John Howard announced a $124
million four-year plan in June to boost coastal surveillance.

Two days after the announcement, two boatloads of illegal immigrants, also thought to be
from the Middle East, were detected by Coastwatch on Ashmore Reef off north-western Australia.

AAP nd/wjf

KEYWORD: BOAT THIRD DAYLEAD

1999 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.