Survivors tell why the boats keep coming [View all]
Indonesian authorities have found 13 people on an island off East Java, raising hope there have been more survivors of the disastrous sinking of a vessel laden with asylum seekers.
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Amid emotional pleas for the Australian government to help them and wrenching accounts of wives, children and brothers lost at sea, two of the survivors sharply criticised the immigration policies they say encourages them to take great risks with their lives.
"Why does Australia not close the border?," said Esmat Adine, a 24 year old Afghan. "Everyone is coming because the border is open. Everyone is going there and they are being accepted.
"If Australia does no want asylum seekers to come to Australia [by boat], it is a better way to close all the borders and then no-one will come."
Devastated by their ordeal, they want to be flown to Australia, where many already have families. But they know that is not something the Australian government will do and they face a long stint in immigration detention, or a hostel, in Indonesia.
Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/world/survivors-tell-why-the-boats-keep-coming-20111219-1p1td.html#ixzz1gyVRRZJk
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