Relatives of Lebanese Involved in Indonesia Boat Tragedy Slam State Inaction
Residents of the northern region of Akkar briefly blocked on Tuesday several roads to protest officials' inaction over revealing the fate of the Lebanese who drowned in the sinking of an Australia-bound boat off Indonesia.
The residents demanded officials to assume their responsibilities and reveal the fate of their relatives.
The closure of the roads caused a massive bumper-to-bumper traffic.
The death toll from the accident, which involved Lebanese, rose to 39 on Monday, officials said, with more feared missing.
The boat, which was estimated to be carrying between 80 and 120 Middle Eastern illegal immigrants, went down on Friday in rough seas off Indonesia's main island of Java. It was headed for Australia's Christmas Island.
Twenty-eight people have escaped alive.
The Lebanese foreign ministry said Sunday there were 68 Lebanese, including children, on board the ill-fated vessel and that 18 survived the ordeal while at least 29 were still missing.
Rescuers have been unable to deploy boats to hunt in the rough seas, with waves at heights of four to six meters.
Hundreds have died in recent years attempting the journey after boarding rickety, wooden boats in Indonesia.
Australia's new Prime Minister Tony Abbott insisted Monday that his country has "total respect" for Indonesia's sovereignty after his tough refugee policies, including towing asylum-seekers' boats back to Indonesia, sparked anger.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had led a series of complaints from officials and lawmakers that Abbott's tow-back policy, part of his "stop the boats" campaign, could infringe Indonesian sovereignty.
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia was also burdened by asylum-seekers passing through, adding: "Australia and Indonesia are both countries that have become victims, we have become victims of these acts of people-smuggling."
Survivors of the accident told journalists that they sent their GPS coordinates to Australian rescuers to assist them -- but no one came to their aid.
11 years
NewLebanon: if you never agreed with FT it only means you have different views. don't be a hypocrite and pretend you're neutral just because you logged on as a guest to post that comment.
also, if you want to play the blame game for these people, then start with their local representatives who never did anything to develop their region but happen to all be billionaires. fyi they were all from akkar.
11 years
They were attempting to illegally enter another country, and paid money to hardened criminals to do it - then were put on a very unseaworthy vessel and killed. There's a lot of dangerous intent there that ignored warnings, ignored the sovereignty of another country, and ignored the dangers of dealing with criminals.
11 years
Why? Did the Lebanese state tell them to go to Australia illegally by boat?
The Lebanese state can not encourage illegal immigration. They broke the law, they have to
assume responsibility for their actions. They should have queued in front of the embassies like everyone else, those permits and visa are there for a reason.
We in lebanon will not accept hundreds of people from continents away drifting into our shores on boats??? Why should Australia accept that?
11 years
NEW LEbANON?? Really what about the millions who struggle to make a life in lebanon? State's fault that you produce 12 kids while working as a concierge? State's fault that you use ypur money to buy cigarettes instead of food to feed those 12 kids? Those who want to work, will ALWAYS find jobs!!! have 1 kid, send to school and that kid will not end up on a boat to AUSTRALIA!! No it is not always the state's fault!! Besides those complaining accept bribes (to by more cigarettes) from politicians and sell them their votes!! You know what?? They get what they deserve!! It is not the state's fault! Most poor people in lebanon manage to provide their children with education and a brighter future..
11 years
wow. never thought i'd agree with you.
11 years
did someone just vomit? i think i heard something.
11 years
Life in Australia is not "all rosey" as people outside Australia think. Following is from the Australian Government website showing life is all work and no time for family or enjoying life:
"Those most likely to feel often or always rushed or pressed for time were mothers in full-time work, with single mothers being more likely to indicate this than couple mothers (78% vs 62%).
45% of fathers who were employed full-time said they often or always felt rushed or pressed for time.
40% of employed mothers with young children and 66% of employed fathers agreed that because of the work they did they had missed out on home or family activities that they would have liked to have taken part in.
23-25% of employed fathers and mothers indicated that their family life was less enjoyable and more pressured owing to their work responsibilities."
http://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/factssheets/2011/fw2011/fw2011b.html
11 years
A Lebanese friend with computer programming qualifications and experience migrated to Australia through proper channels by applying to Australian immigration. He succeeded due to his qualifications and experience which gave him preferential eligibility. On arrival he commenced applying for work. For 18 months he made hundreds of applications and could not get work due to economic downturn and influx of computer qualified immigrants from India and China. His parents had to send him money from Lebanon so he could continue surviving (rent/food). Eventually a Lebanese friend of his found him a job in a grocery store. He found it difficult serving customers who are people from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Asia however is continuing to work there as not yet found a more suitable position.
11 years
when was the state ever "active" ? LOL
11 years
These people are sick in the head. They should rot on the shores of Indonesia. They have no respect for humans so why should humans respect them...These are sympathisers of Jubhet el nusra in Syria and the Salafists in Lebanon...They can go straight to hell. Australia will never accept cannibals like these into their country. You actually think the Australian Intelligence agency - ASIS didn't know in advance! Let me assure you that ASIS and other intelligence including the Lebanese army intelligence knew very well in advance! I just feel sorry for those poor little kids.
FT, wrong again. I've read a lot of your posts and haven't come across one as of yet that led me think, "Hey, he's got a point." If the Lebanese state afforded a reasonable life for its citizens, they wouldn't have to resort to such measures. It's not like they chose this as a pleasure cruise, idiot. On the bright side, at least we still have HA trying to liberate the land that most Lebanese are trying to leave because of HA. They created their own reality...genius!