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Stranded Boatpeople Start Hunger Strike
The Australian government is reportedly at meeting Tuesday morning to decided its next step to cope with the stranded 438 boatpeople stranded off Christmas Island who started hunger strike Monday afternoon.
The Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported Tuesday that Arne Rinnan, captain of the container ship Tampa, said that yesterday afternoon at 1800 the boatpeople went on a hunger strike. They refused to take food and water, except for the children and four pregnant women.
The group of boatpeople were rescued on the way to Australia by Tampa in Sunday night about 180 km off Christmas Island, the Australian most remote territory. They pressured Tampa to sail onto Christmas Island while the Australian government refused Monday morning the Norwegian freighter to enter into Australian waters.
Rinnan said the ship had enough food to feed the group for between seven and 10 days, "But now they went on a hunger strike it might last a little bit longer."
According to the captain, health of the rescued people was deteriorating with 22 members of the group had diarrhea, some had scabies and many had stomach problems.
Prime Minister John Howard said talks with Indonesia and Norway were continuing.
"At this stage the Indonesians are disinclined to take people back," he told Melbourne radio 3AW.
He promised financial assistance coaxing Indonesia to accept these people. "Our view is that we would be willing to provide significant financial help to Indonesia to build a detention center in that country," he said and added that "We understand Indonesia is not well off. We're willing to accept a big financial responsibility. We've made that very clear, and that remains our position."
Earlier, Howard expressed the government refused the boatpeople was aimed at sending a message to people smugglers that Australia is not a soft touch.
However, according to AAP, Christmas Island shire councilor Mark Bennett said Tuesday the action sent no message to people smugglers to desist from the illegal practice, "(Instead) I think it's sending a message to people on the high seas not to do anything by goodwill, not to help anyone."
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