Another boat yesterday with 39

[donnashuggy]

It sank and those on board were rescued, somewhere near Christmas Island.

Just wanted to do my bit as the media won't tell us till Friday I suppose.

[izabsmiling]

Are the people OK do you know Donna? I hope so.

Here is some more news

Asylum policy of deterrence threatening families

Date November 15, 2013

• Julie-Anne Davies

• Asylum seekers being detained on Christmas Island and off shore on Nauru and Manus Island are being subjected to a regime of coercion and intimidation and living in appalling conditions in a deliberate bid to force them to go home.

  Well-placed sources working in the offshore detention system report that inadequate healthcare and, contrary to government policy, forced family separation or threats of separation, has created a toxic mix of despair and fear among the asylum population.

  The Abbott government policy of deterrence is being felt in every corner of the detention system from the moment people get on boats in Indonesia right through to the hot, cramped tent camps and World War II bunkers asylum seekers are forced to live in on Nauru and Manus Island.

  Children are being used as a bargaining tool to get people to return home. In a letter received this week from an Iranian on Christmas Island, he says he has been told he will be separated from his pregnant wife two months before she gives birth. ''I have requested from the Immigration officers to discuss my situation, however, they keep telling me to go back home if you want to be next to your wife during delivering the baby,'' he writes.

  Several sources have described harrowing scenes on Christmas Island last month when Immigration officers forced two unaccompanied Sri Lankan children aged 12 and 14 on to a plane to return home. They were part of a group of 84 Tamils who had arrived on the Coco Islands after 34 days at sea and within 48 hours were put on a plane and sent back to Colombo.

  Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/asylum-policy-of-deterrence-threatening-famili...
  http://www.independentaustralia.net/politics/politics-display/humiliation-on-the-high-seas,5900
  also from IA 

  The hardliners in the Immigration Department are in control and family separation is the tool of choice. Senior correspondent Barry Everingham reports.

  
  
  
  

[donnashuggy]

As far as I know they are ok and all rescued by the navy.

Is this what Tony Abbott meant by stopping them? The only difference is we are not being told, it is disgusting.

Apparently communications are shut down so the details cannot be communicated.

[poddster]

Donna are you expanding your business to reporting now?

I better warn Rupert that there is competition on the horizon 🙂

[donnashuggy]

Most people knew he wouldn't stop the boats poddy, those with common sense.

Another Lie, what we didn't know was that he was going to hide the boats instead.

[*crikey*mate*]

hide the boats?

you mean like area 51?

oohhhhhh

[donnashuggy]

No, like hiding the facts from the public, he knows about the boat that went down yesterday, but doesn't want us to know, is this a police state? Does the military rule? Has there been a military coup?

[donnashuggy]

Tow back tony is giving the boats away now lol

[*crikey*mate*]

i saw that about the two boats and staff, I thought that was actually a good thing.

might help them to police their own waters a bit more and stop a few boats from even leaving. That's got to be good, doesn't it?

You would think if we can stop or intercept enough that eventually the message must get through that it's just not gonna happen..

you know a

"Don't Try This At Home" kinda thing...

if they stop risking their lives with the people smugglers in dodgy boats, that's a good thing, isn't it?

and even if the two boats we gave/give only ever intercepts one boat or helps with the rescue of one damaged boat ful of people, that's at least a start, isn't it?

I know it's not ideal, and they all need to be intercepted etc, but tht's at least some lives saved?

[donnashuggy]

I think people need to understand what the indonesions think, as said in this interview it is an international problem, well worth listening to this:

http://media.theage.com.au/news/national-times/tony-abbotts-boat-plan-slammed-4926695.html

instead of the rubbish they read in a lot of australian media