Asylum seekers: Australian authorities could be accused of people smuggling over alleged payments, l

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An international law expert has raised the prospect that Australian authorities could be accused of people smuggling if it is proven they paid the crew of an asylum seeker boat to return to Indonesia.

Professor of International Law at the Australian National University Don Rothwell said under regional protocols such activity could be tantamount to people smuggling.

Last month, Australian authorities intercepted a boat carrying 65 asylum seekers.

Asylum seekers on board told Indonesian police Australian officials paid the captain and crew members thousands of dollars cash to go back to Indonesia.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-13/australia-could-be-accused-of-people-smuggling-lawyer-says/6543446

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1. Australian Leader Pressed to Say if Smugglers Were Paid to Turn Back

SYDNEY, Australia — Australian opposition lawmakers said Saturday that they would press Prime Minister Tony Abbott to reveal whether the government paid smugglers to turn a boat full of migrants back to Indonesia after intercepting it at sea.

Migrants from the boat gave that account to workers for a United Nations refugee agency in Indonesia, a United Nations official said Friday. In an Australian radio interview that day, Mr. Abbott, asked about news reports that made the same assertion, neither confirmed nor denied it, but he said the government was determined to “stop the boats by hook or by crook.”

Richard Marles, the opposition Labor Party’s spokesman for immigration, said Saturday that Mr. Abbott’s refusal to clearly deny having paid human traffickers “leaves one with the only possible assumption that that may well have been exactly what happened.”

The minority Greens Party said it would submit a motion in the Senate, possibly as early as Monday, demanding that the government produce any documents related to the interception of the boat.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/14/world/asia/australia-tony-abbott-pressed-on-smugglers-paid-to-turn-back.html

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2. Indonesian police chief Hidayat confirms 'wads of cash' paid to people smugglers

Indonesia's foreign minister has asked the Australian government to explain claims it paid people smugglers to return 65 asylum seekers to Indonesian waters, as a local police chief insists the payment occurred.

Fairfax Media is aware of the contents of a detailed official report submitted to the Indonesian National Police in Jakarta, who are now also investigating the incident, and has seen photographs of stacks of $US100 bills allegedly paid to the boat crew.

The report outlines claims by the boat's captain, Yohanis Humiang, that an Australian official gave each of the six crew members $US5000 on the condition they never engage in people smuggling again.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/indonesian-police-chief-hidayat-confirms-wads-of-cash-paid-to-people-smugglers-20150613-ghn9et.html