Conflicting claims over boat missing in Indonesian waters
Updated
There is confusion about the fate of 70 Afghan asylum-seekers, after a vessel was reported missing near the Indonesian island of Flores.
The Australian Federal Police told Indonesian authorities about the distressed boat's location on Tuesday night, triggering a search. Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says the boat has been intercepted by the Indonesian navy and all onboard are safe, but Indonesian authorities have been unable or unwilling to confirm that claim.
Presenter: Geoff Thompson, Indonesia correspondent
Speakers: Stephen Smith, Australian Foreign Minister
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THOMPSON: The tip off came via text message from an Australian Federal Police officer to local police on the island of Flores at about 11pm on Tuesday night.
(Commissioner Sansuri speaking.)
According to West Manggarai police chief Commissioner Sansuri the text message said, "Please assist, there is a boat loaded with Afghan refugees; between 75 and 100 people stranded at sea because of a storm in the waters near Komodo Island. It may have sank. We'll get back to you".
Precise coordinates for the vessel were also provided by the AFP, says Commissioner Sansuri. The AFP followed up with a phone call to ask if the boat had been found, he says.
Indeed a search was launched but Commissioner Sansuri says no trace of the Afghans or any clues to their whereabouts were found.
However last night Australian authorities revealed that they thought the likely asylum seekers headed for Australia had been found. This was confirmed by Australia's Foreign Minister Stephen Smith who was talking to "Lateline" from Perth.
SMITH: Well the advice I have from Australian officials is that Indonesian officials have adviced Australian officials in Indonesia that the boat has been located. It hasn't sunk. And so the advice we have and the basis on which we're proceeding is that the Indonesian maritime agencies have located the boat. All on board, which I understand to be some 70 people, are on our advice, safe. So, obviously, we're relieved that in that respect there's been a successful outcome.
THOMPSON: But so far it's not proven opossible to have that confirmed by Indonesian authorities. The spokesman for the Indonesian navy's Eastern Fleet Lieutenant Colonel Toni Syaiful says he knows nothing about any such rescue.
Commissioner Sansuri also told the ABC via text message that he had checked with the local Indonesian navy commander in the West Manggarai area near Flores Island and was also told that no boatload of Afghans had been located.
But last night Stephen Smith remained adamant. He confirmed that the tip-off came from the AFP without saying how they came to know about the boat in the first place.
SMITH: Indonesian authorities, their maritime agencies, set about the task of locating the boat. They've advised us that they've been successful in that task. My understanding and our advice is also that those on board are safe.
So this has all occurred within Indonesian waters. It's a matter as a consequence of that for the Indonesian authorities.
Now what the intentions of the people on board were and will as I've said be no doubt the subject of conversation and discussion between both Australian and Indonesian agencies, but the matter has been and is now a matter for and a responsibility for the Indonesian Government and the Indonesian agencies and they'll no doubt set about that task forthwith.
THOMPSON: It's quite possible that Stephen Smith is right and it's simply a case of the right hand not talking to the left hand amongst Indonesian security and maritime agencies.
Its also possible that confusion reigns and the fate of more than 70 Afghans, likely heading for Australia, remains unknown.
