November 14, 2012
Image Source: Google
Another boat sinking tragedy has been confirmed today, speaking to Mohammad Ishaq – his friend in Australia, the only survivor of the tragedy named Habib said that the boat was carrying 34 passengers and left Indonesia on Eid ul Adha’s eve on 26th of October 2012. It sank after sailing 12 hours towards Christmas Island. Habib who witnessed the disastrous voyage before his eyes, had seen his fellows drowning and pleading for help. Whereabouts of other 33 asylum seekers are still unknown and as two weeks have passed since the tragedy, the hope for their survival is fading.
Habib had swum for four days until a fisher man rescued and subsequently handed him to Indonesian Immigration Authorities. He is now detained in Jakarta’s Konengan Detention Centre. The smuggler behind the organizing of this boat has been identified as “Syed Sikander” who has reportedly organized several boat trips to Australia.
All the on-board passengers belonged to Hazara community – the most persecuted ethnic and religious minority, fleeing from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran.
Ironically, Indonesian Rescue Agency BASARNAS, Australian Maritime Safety Authority (ASMA) and either side’s media [Australia + Indonesia] did not report this tragedy. Even UNHCR, in whose custody the only survivor of this tragedy is now, refrained from reporting this boat tragedy to media.
The boat is the latest in a string of vessels attempt the dangerous crossing to Australia’s northwest. This tragedy brings back the painful memories of the 3 other boats carrying 34 asylum seekers in August, 22 in May and 67 in June this year, that went missing without being reported on media or by the concerned authorities.
Following are the names of the some on board asylum seekers;
- Taqi
- Hakim
- Haji Jawad
- Muhammad Sharif
- Habibullah
- Kaka Salim
- Azeem
- Muhammad Atif
- Abdul Rahim
- Karim
- Hameedullah
- Haji Ibrahim
*If media personnel are interested to interview the only survivor of this tragedy or seeking more information, please email us at asylumseekershazara@gmail.com
Additional reporting: Arif Hazara
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For every Hazara who dies the Australian Government allies itself with the Taliban and all those who have persecuted and slain Hazaras through the century. The quality of mercy is not strained …..
good news if you ask me. might stop them coming here by boat. they are displacing people in camps anyway
Thank you for this. I will add this sad case of 256 October 2012 to my database of missing or sunken asylum seeker boats indicating the possibility of a negligent or substandard Australian rescue at sea response to possible knowledge of distress, under our Law of the Sea,Safety of Life at Sea, and Rescue at Sea Convention responsibilities – see Houston Panel Report, Attachment 3.
It will be desirable to try to establish the nature and timing of a distress phone call (if any) from this boat to Australian authortities before it sank.
It is deplorable that neither AMSA nor BASARNAs reported this tragedfy, reflecting their usual indifference to the worry and distress of relatives. If their knowledge of this boat’s sinking was based solely on secret intelligence and not on any FOI-recoverable distress call from it , they are not legally obliged to make public any prior or later knowledge they may have had of this event. Tony Kevin, .www.reluctantrrescuers.com .
My brother his name in only ,sikandar, thats not sayed sikandar, please complate
His name is Sayed sikandar Bache Sayed hakim lives in said abas Queta
if you know about Hasan Ahmadi . pleas send for me sms .he is lost too.
just to confirm is there anyone named ali barati on this boad?