Refleksi : Jauh benar dari Timur Tengah ke Australia. Apakah tidak lebih baik ke negeri-negeri yang letak geografishnya dekat seperti Arab Saudia, Kuwait atau negeri-negeri UAE lainnya, kaya, stabil aman, bahasa sama dan lagi adat istiadat tidak banyak berbeda.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/04/2009416257290705.html Thursday, April 16, 2009 07:09 Mecca time, 04:09 GMT Blast on refugee boat off Australia The boat was intercepted near Ashmore Reef off Australia's northwest coast At least three people have been killed and two others are missing after an explosion on a boat carrying asylum seekers off Australia's northwestern coast. Police said the boat carrying 49 refugees from Afghanistan was being towed to a refugee processing centre on Australia's Christmas Island when the explosion occurred. The boat had been intercepted on Wednesday by Australian navy patrol ships near Ashmore Reef, about 840km from the northern city of Darwin. Sergeant Greg Lambert told Reuters news agency that the explosion was believed to have occurred in the engine compartment of the vessel. He said that as well as at least three people killed, several others had been injured in the explosion. However, Australia's home affairs ministry said the number of dead and injured had yet to be confirmed. "Border protection agencies have reported there has been an explosion or serious fire on board this vessel," Bob Debus, Australia's home affairs minister said in a statement. "There are reports from personnel on the scene that this incident has resulted in fatalities, serious injuries and that a number of occupants of the vessel are missing." He said two navy patrol boats were providing assistance following the incident. "The government's first priority is to address the immediate situation and to ensure the safety of life at sea." Thirteen boats carrying asylum-seekers have been discovered in Australian waters since the government of Kevin Rudd, the Australian prime minister, introduced policies last July that softened the country's treatment of asylum-seekers. Refugees landing on Australian soil peaked in 2001 when more than 1,200 people arrived, mostly from the Middle East. Many of these maritime journeys have been organised by professional people-smuggling rings. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
