Police in Australia have charged an Iraqi man with organizing a "people-smuggling venture" that led to more than 350 asylum-seekers drowning at sea. The ill-fated boat sank in international waters in 2001.
This boat carrying 150 suspected asylum-seekers sank north of Christmas Island in 2012Image: MV Bison/Australian Maritime Safety Authority via Getty Images
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The 43-year-old suspect appeared in court in the Australian city of Brisbane on Saturday following his extradition from New Zealand.
Police allege he belonged to a syndicate that attempted to smuggle asylum-seekers into Australia on an Indonesian fishing boat in 2001. The vessel, known as Siev X, sank in international waters en route to Australia's Christmas Island, resulting in the deaths of more than 350 people — most of them women and children.
Police said the man, then 24, accepted payments from the passengers to help them with transport and accommodation in Indonesia ahead of their sea journey to Australia.
Australia pays asylum seekers millions in compensation
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'They are owed justice'
The suspect, an Iraqi national, was arrested at Brisbane Airport on Friday evening and charged with "organizing groups of non-citizens to Australia."
He has been remanded in custody and is due to reappear in court on October 31. If convicted, he faces a maximum of 10 years in prison. Two other individuals have already faced court over the Siev X incident.
"Let's not lose sight of the fact that more than 350 people died in this tragedy," Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said in a statement.
"They are owed justice and we remain committed to deterring those who profit from this trade."
The Siev X sinking was controversial in Australia because it took place during an election campaign and at a time when border protection was a major issue. The country's two main political parties have sought to use the tragedy to justify harsh asylum policies, arguing they are necessary to deter people-smuggling and boat arrivals.
Manus Island: Papua New Guinea police begin clear-out operation in former detention center
Hundreds of asylum seekers refused to leave the Australian-run detention center that was shut down on 31 October, citing fears for their safety. Now police have come to clear them out.
Image: Reuters/AAP/J. Castro
Police presence
Papua New Guinea authorities entered the Manus Island detention center on Thursday morning to expel asylum seekers. Police Chief Superintendent Dominic Kakas said 50 police and immigration officials entered the camp.
Image: Reuters/AAP
Police: not a raid
"There's no raid. It's an ongoing negotiation with the refugees," Kakas told AP. "It's not an eviction exercise. We're telling them to move because there's water, food and proper shelter on the other side."
Image: Reuters/AAP//Refugee Action
Asylum seekers: food and water confiscated
Residents claim authorities attacked their makeshift supplies again. "They destroyed our food and damaged our accommodation too, they destroyed our water tank," one asylum seeker told Reuters.
Image: Reuters/AAP
Deadline passed
Deadlines to abandon the camp earlier in November passed without authorities taking action. Food, water and power supplies ended when the Manus camp officially closed on October 31. Police then ramped up pressure by emptying water tanks and removing shelters.
Image: Reuters/AAP
UN: humanitarian crisis
Advocacy group Asylum Seeker Resource Center (ASRC) said more than 150 men at in the camp were seriously ill, lacking access to basic first aid or medicine. The United Nations had previously described the standoff as a "looming humanitarian crisis", calling on Australia to take immediate action to avert disaster.
Image: Reuters/AAP
Violent history
The detention center has an ugly history of violence. Iranian asylum seeker Reza Berati was killed — and another 69 asylum seekers injured — during a riot in 2014. Two locals, a guard and a Salvation army employee, were convicted of his murder.
Image: Reuters/Thanus
Protesters: Justice for refugees
Australia's hardline immigration policy has provoked criticism both at home and abroad. President Malcolm Turnbull suggested refugees in Manus were using the situation to gain asylum. "They think that ... in some way they can pressure the Australian government to let them come to Australia. Well, we will not be pressured. We will not outsource our migration policy to people smugglers."
