What happened to their hands do you think?

[donnashuggy]

http://www.news.com.au/national/indonesia-gears-up-its-military-as-senior-politician-labels-australi...

It looks a bit worrying doesn't it?

[boris1gary]

Hopefully from that article in the SMH there might be a slim chance that some questions will have to answered......I don't think we should hold our breath though.

[crystal-gems]

I witnessed an interview on TV with an asylum seeker who recently came by boat.

He stated the the people smugglers told them to disable their engine when an Australian boat came into view.

The people smugglers said this was necessary to ensure they weren't turned back and would be rescued and take to Australia.

The following is a cut and paste from Mike Carlton's column in today's SMH.

Please note that Mike Carlton is sympathetic to the plight of asylum seekers coming to Australia.

_____________________________________________

So here's what my navy sources tell me about those refugees with the burnt hands. Somewhere north of Christmas Island, a party of sailors from the frigate HMAS Parramatta boarded an Indonesian fishing boat.

Some went below to secure the engine-room and were accosted by angry male passengers who were trying to disable the engine. A scuffle broke out. One man apparently set fire to a fuel-soaked rag. A sailor used pepper spray to subdue them. In the uproar, blinded by the fumes, two panicked asylum seekers grabbed hold of hot engine pipes

[boris1gary]

Thats nice of you to accept the writings of Mike Carlton as proof, however...........the writings of one journo and flat denials from the Govt are a little meaningless........surely an indpendent investigation would be more appropriate

also in todays SMH

The federal opposition is calling for an independent investigation into claims the navy abused asylum seekers, saying it is the only way to vindicate the Australian personnel.

The ABC has admitted it should been "more precise" when reporting allegations that asylum seekers were forced by the navy to hold on to hot engine parts. The coverage sparked a backlash against the public broadcaster but the abuse claims have been given fresh impetus after being reported again in Fairfax Media.

Opposition parliamentary secretary Matt Thistlethwaite said such claims should be treated with "healthy scepticism" but now they had been aired again it was appropriate to have an independent investigation. "That's the best way to vindicate the Australian navy," he told Sky News on Saturday.

"I have every confidence in Australian navy personnel."

The government has rejected the claims. Defence Minister David Johnston has pushed for an inquiry into the ABC for "besmirching" the navy's reputation.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the allegations were made by someone who had "an interest in creating certain perceptions". "There is absolutely no suggestion that there is any truth in these allegations whatsoever and we reject them out of hand," he told Sky News on Saturday.

[azureline**]

hmm, I wonder if his navy source is aware he has told the world?

I have a relative who is on HMAS Darwin right now but I wouldn't compromise him either by asking, nor telling anyone, what he is doing and seeing while deployed.

[the_great_she_elephant]

An article in today's West Australian says that Mr Abbott has rejected calls to release surveillance footage of the operation, sayng "I don't want to do anything that would cast aspersions on the professionalism of our naval and customs personnel."

I have no idea whether or not the allegations are true - in fact  think it more likely that the men burnt their hands while trying to disable the boat, or in a scuffle with the boarding officers, however If Mr abbott really did use thos exact words then it was an extraordinarily stupid gaffe - it was tantamount to saying "I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I might incriminate myself."

[**meep**]

Here is the transcript of the press conference:

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/2014-02-07/joint-press-conference-prime-minister-key

[**meep**]

pssssst! She-ele, was it you who recently bought a small car? I'm trying to find the thread.

[punch*drunk]

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@**meep** wrote:

pssssst! She-ele, was it you who recently bought a small car? I'm trying to find the thread.

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I'm pretty sure she ele bought a suzuki alto, so did I.

[**meep**]

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@punch*drunk wrote:

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@**meep** wrote:

pssssst! She-ele, was it you who recently bought a small car? I'm trying to find the thread.

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I'm pretty sure she ele bought a suzuki alto, so did I.

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Thanks  

[spotweldersfriend]

Getup! is currently raising funds to investigate this whole stop the boats affair. Journalists visa fees into Nauru are set to rise (if they haven't already) from $200 to $8000.