Asylum seekers, Demanded passage to Christmas Island
A team of Australian doctors today landed on a Norwegian cargo ship carrying more than 400 Afghan refugees. The ship, the Tampa, is anchored in international waters off the tiny Australian outpost of Christmas Island, south of Indonesia.
Australia, Indonesia and Norway have all stated that they are not willing to accept the refugees. There are reports that some on board the vessel have begun a hunger strike.
The owners of the Norwegian ship say that the vessel cannot be moved. They claim that the vessel is not equipped to conduct an ocean voyage with so many on board.
The asylum seekers had forced the captain of the Tampa to take them to Australian territory after he had ordered their rescue from Indonesian waters two nights ago.
The captain of the Tampa says that some of the men on board the vessel have begun a hunger strike to highlight their case. Arno Rinnen said that the crew has done all it can to make the vessel comfortable for the refugees.
