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Boatpeople on Way to Papua New Guinea
433 Asylum seekers are on their way to Papua New Guinea. Citing Christmas Island harbor master Don O'Donnell, the Australian Associated Press reported Tuesday that the Manoora's departure was delayed as it waited for a team of translators to board.
The federal court in Melbourne lifted Monday its injunction that restricted the asylum seekers from being moved.
The boatpeople were escorted by armed Australian soldiers Monday night and transferred from the Norwegian freight the Tampa to the Australian naval ship the Manoora.
As the asylum seekers make their way to Papua New Guinea, the Commonwealth government will make representations to the Federal Court Tuesday as the court resumed hearing and ensure they stay out of Australia.
Human rights groups have asked Justice Tony North to rule the asylum seekers be processed in Australia, a move strenuously opposed by the Howard government.
The journey of the troop carrier Manoora to PNG's capital Port Moresby will take six to ten days. The Australian immigration department's officials on board will assess each person of the group before sending them to New Zealand and Nauru for processing.
Four Indonesian crew from the sinking fishing vessel were arrested and spent the night in the custody of the Australian Federal Police.
The Tampa left Christmas Island Tuesday early morning for Singapore after 8 days standoff. It rescued the 433 boatpeople on August 26.
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