Siev 36
Encyclopedia
SIEV-36 was a boat from Indonesia carrying 47 apparently Afghan
asylum seekers and two Indonesian crew members. The vessel exploded and sank near Ashmore Reef, Australia in the early morning of 16 April 2009, shortly after being intercepted by an Australian patrol boat
. In recent years, a number of such vessels have arrived clandestinely in Australian waters and are sequentially designated as SIEVs by Australian border protection authorities
for operational purposes.
Media reports provided the following information:
The boat, the sixth to arrive in Australian waters in 2009, apparently left Indonesia the week before and was detected on the night of 15 April by HMAS Albany 600 km north of Broome
and 840 km west of Darwin
.
The explosion occurred while a boarding party from HMAS Childers was checking identification documents in the SIEV 36. The boarding party observed the smell of petrol and reported a disturbance on the boat about five minutes before the explosion occurred. Five passengers died and a further 51 people were injured, including several Australian Navy personnel.
A coronial inquest into the deaths of five asylum seekers has been told that the fire on board their boat was deliberately lit by passengers. Counsel assisting the coroner Stephen Walsh QC, told the inquest the boat's engine had been sabotaged and up to 30 litres of petrol had been leaked below deck in the bow area prior to the explosion. The ADF
evacuated injured survivors to the mainland for treatment. Many of the casualties were severely injured, and were treated at hospitals in Darwin, Perth and elsewhere. Other survivors were put in the custody of Immigration officials in several locations.
Investigations as to the cause of the explosion were conducted by the Northern Territory police as the explosion occurred within NT jurisdiction.
The Federal Government offered Temporary protection visa
s to the apparent 42 surviving refugees on board, the crew was detained on people smuggling charges.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
asylum seekers and two Indonesian crew members. The vessel exploded and sank near Ashmore Reef, Australia in the early morning of 16 April 2009, shortly after being intercepted by an Australian patrol boat
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
. In recent years, a number of such vessels have arrived clandestinely in Australian waters and are sequentially designated as SIEVs by Australian border protection authorities
Border Protection Command (Australia)
The Australian Government's Border Protection Command is a multi-agency command which was established in 2005 to coordinate the protection of Australia’s offshore assets...
for operational purposes.
Media reports provided the following information:
The boat, the sixth to arrive in Australian waters in 2009, apparently left Indonesia the week before and was detected on the night of 15 April by HMAS Albany 600 km north of Broome
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
and 840 km west of Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
.
The explosion occurred while a boarding party from HMAS Childers was checking identification documents in the SIEV 36. The boarding party observed the smell of petrol and reported a disturbance on the boat about five minutes before the explosion occurred. Five passengers died and a further 51 people were injured, including several Australian Navy personnel.
A coronial inquest into the deaths of five asylum seekers has been told that the fire on board their boat was deliberately lit by passengers. Counsel assisting the coroner Stephen Walsh QC, told the inquest the boat's engine had been sabotaged and up to 30 litres of petrol had been leaked below deck in the bow area prior to the explosion. The ADF
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
evacuated injured survivors to the mainland for treatment. Many of the casualties were severely injured, and were treated at hospitals in Darwin, Perth and elsewhere. Other survivors were put in the custody of Immigration officials in several locations.
Investigations as to the cause of the explosion were conducted by the Northern Territory police as the explosion occurred within NT jurisdiction.
The Federal Government offered Temporary protection visa
Temporary protection visa
A Temporary Protection Visa was an Australian visa document introduced by the Howard Government on 20 October 1999, which was issued to persons who had been recognised as refugees fleeing persecution. The scheme was controversial, with the government claiming it was a necessary response to the...
s to the apparent 42 surviving refugees on board, the crew was detained on people smuggling charges.
Coronial Findings
The coroner, Greg Cavanagh, returned findings on 17 March 2010. Among other things, the coroner found that the fire was deliberately lit, that he considered that crimes had been committed in relation to the incident and that each of the asylum seekers who gave evidence had lied to the inquiry.Sources
- http://www.australia-times.com.au/national/article.php?id=1544
- http://www.marinebuzz.com/2009/04/20/siev-36-sinks-off-ashmore-reef-australia-due-to-explosion/
- http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25356426-601,00.html
- http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/25/2800571.htm
- http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/asylum-boat-fire-deliberately-lit/story-e6frg13u-1225841915369
- http://www.theage.com.au/national/afghan-refugees-to-get-protection-visas-20091011-gsf6.html