http://au.news.yahoo.com/latest/a/-/latest/14699462/asylum-seeker-boat-in-distre...

A boat carrying up to 150 asylum seekers is believed to be in distress in Indonesia's Sunda Strait, the ABC reports.

Confirmation is being sought from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and the Indonesian search and rescue agency BASARNAS.

A tweet from the Indonesian agency posted on the social media network Twitter said it was a wooden ship with about 150 passengers on board.

The agency said it had sunk off Ujung Kulon, on the western-most tip of Java.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said later in a statement that BASARNAS was coordinating the search and rescue response.

Australian authorities had issued a broadcast to vessels in the area to assist, but BASARNAS had indicated no further assistance was required.

The head of BASARNAS, Gagah Prakoso, said search teams deployed to the boat's last known location had found no sign of the vessel.

He said helicopters involved in the search had returned to base.

"After hours of searching around the site where it's said to be sunk, we found nothing. There's no sign at all if the boat sank.

"Usually when a boat sinks, there should be a sign, maybe one or two people may be floating using parts of the boat.

"But there's nothing."

Sky News reports Indonesian authorities have made contact with the vessel and it is not in distress.

Why won't Abbott allow the Malaysia deal through and put an end to this .....

So it's not on the people smugglers head?

How do you figure?

Where's the responsibility of those who get on the boat?

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Aug 29^th, 2012 at 5:36pm:

Where's the responsibility of those who get on the boat?

They bear some responsibility, but it's pretty low in my eyes.  If someone gets on a bus and the bus crashes, the driver is still the one at fault. 

John have you posted this from a work computer? you do lots of posting during work hours.

Whats doing??

True, but these boats look pretty crap.

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Aug 29^th, 2012 at 5:41pm:

True, but these boats look pretty crap.

To us, sure.  But if you're from a landlocked country like Afghnaistan, they wouldn't know a seaworthy vessel from a tractor.

woof woof wrote on Aug 29^th, 2012 at 5:40pm:

John have you posted this from a work computer? you do lots of posting during work hours. Whats doing??

I work from home in my own business. ...  so yes it's a work computer ..and it's mine ....... 8-) 8-) 8-)

liar, your on the pension.

And the actual government of the day has no responsibility? only the OPPOSITION leader???

there is plenty of blame to go around but none fall son the Libs. They had a policy that literally prevented this and labor got rid of it.

I suppose at least the indonesians TRIED to do something this time. So they replaced indifference with incompetence. Well, it's an improvement - unless you are the one drowning. Who knows, perhaps the indonesians might actually be able to rescue their own people one day.

Perhaps all we need to tell the military is that it is a defenceless country they are going after instead of a boat. They will be there in minutes!

... wrote on Aug 29^th, 2012 at 5:44pm:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Aug 29th, 2012 at 5:41pm: True, but these boats look pretty crap. To us, sure.  But if you're from a landlocked country like Afghnaistan, they wouldn't know a seaworthy vessel from a tractor.

I think even a person with the IQ of a donkey (or skippy) can tell that a boat that is falling apart in the harbour, has 150 people on it, standing room only, might be a tad dangerous. If not, there really is no helping them in this world.

gold_medal wrote on Aug 29^th, 2012 at 6:19pm:

And the actual government of the day has no responsibility? only the OPPOSITION leader??? there is plenty of blame to go around but none fall son the Libs. They had a policy that literally prevented this and labor got rid of it. I suppose at least the indonesians TRIED to do something this time. So they replaced indifference with incompetence. Well, it's an improvement - unless you are the one drowning. Who knows, perhaps the indonesians might actually be able to rescue their own people one day. Perhaps all we need to tell the military is that it is a defenceless country they are going after instead of a boat. They will be there in minutes!

so what part of the malaysia solution was to blame for this? Gillard didn't want nauru .. she was forced into it by the libs .. you got it, now own it ... when the libs try the malaysia soution then you can blame labor ... until then , a large portion of the fault lies with the libs ... regardless of your denials

woof woof wrote on Aug 29^th, 2012 at 6:17pm:

liar, your on the pension.

is that because thats what you would do?  you lie and therefore assume everyone else does?

I'd say it's you on the pension ... a disability pension for reduced mental capacity .... or substance abuse  ..

It takes a strange sort of logic to hold the opposition responsible for the 'actions' of the government...

gold_medal wrote on Aug 29^th, 2012 at 6:21pm:

... wrote on Aug 29th, 2012 at 5:44pm: Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Aug 29th, 2012 at 5:41pm: True, but these boats look pretty crap. To us, sure.  But if you're from a landlocked country like Afghnaistan, they wouldn't know a seaworthy vessel from a tractor. I think even a person with the IQ of a donkey (or skippy) can tell that a boat that is falling apart in the harbour, has 150 people on it, standing room only, might be a tad dangerous. If not, there really is no helping them in this world.

Nobody said they were smart.   Well, I guess "refugee advcoates" do, but they're not exactly geniuses themselves. 

I'd bet theres also a complete lack of understanding about the journey - it looks little more than a stones throw on a map.

They come by boat

they seek asylum

so they must all be poverty stricken illiterates

aye Wes?

You know surprisingly little about the world you inhabit.

uhuh.

And let me guess - you know it all?

See my previous comment regarding refugee advocates. 

I've studied this one - and I say that the responsibility lies with both sides of politics - not just Liberals.  I see both sides as being weasels over this issue - which incidentally, brings tears to my eyes (I'm a 63 year old man, BTW).

Maybe we should just send the Navy to regular pickup points, accept fares, and bring some here for processing.  Safer, anyway - better food.... at least it would offer hope instead of desperation.

The Heartless Felon wrote on Aug 30^th, 2012 at 6:35am:

It takes a strange sort of logic to hold the opposition responsible for the 'actions' of the government...

Correct.  They are equally resonsible

Asylum seekers are not criminals.  Why are we treating them as such?