DEMOCRATS URGE MORE PRESSURE ON INDONESIA
The Age
28 December 2002

The Australian Democrats say the Federal Government should increase the pressure on Indonesia to charge an alleged people smuggler who may have caused the death of 353 asylum seekers.

Abu Quassey is due to be freed on January 1 from a Jakarta prison where he is serving time for unrelated immigration offences.

Democrats leader Senator Andrew Bartlett yesterday urged the Australian government to increase its pressure on Indonesia to charge Mr Quassey with the manslaughter of 353 people who drowned on the SIEV-X voyage. The asylum seekers on SIEV-X were bound for Australia when their overloaded fishing boat sank in October last year.

The Australian Federal Police have issued four warrants for the arrest of Mr Quassey, an Egyptian national in relation to people smuggling offences.

Back to sievx.com