Australia Knew About Boat Sabotage

Abu Quassey - the organiser of the fatal SIEVX voyage on which 353 people lost their lives - due to be released from prison in Indonesia on 1 January after serving a 6 month sentence for minor immigration offences.

We say to the AFP and the Australian Government - this is the real test of your sincerity in regard to SIEVX. Bring Quassey to justice in Australia for his part in the mass killings of those on board the SIEVX. If you have nothing to fear from Quassey's evidence in an Australian court and what he might reveal about the Australian People Smuggling Disruption Program in Indonesia then you will find a way to bring him here.

14 December 2002

SIEVX features strongly in the news this weekend with major stories in the Australian, Age and Margo Kingston's Web Diary.

The Weekend Australian article by Cameron Stewart contains some astonishing new allegations:

"Labor has... received information from what it believes are well-placed sources suggesting that Australian intelligence knew about the sabotage of asylum-seeker boats and that Australians may have played an indirect role in such activities."

Margo Kingston gives a good overview of the Abu Quassey story to date that pulls no punches and includes a new article by Tony Kevin on recent developments.

Annabel Crabb, writing in the Age on the Quassey story, includes a quote from Dr Jean-Pierre Fonteyne. senior lecturer in international law at the Australian National University, disputing the possibility of extraditing Quassey to Australia for prosecution over the deaths of 353 people on SIEVX should it be proven that SIEVX sank in international waters. Given this claim, one has to wonder on what basis AFP Commissioner Keelty raised it in the CMI Committee on 11 July.

Other SIEVX News