Fed: Further action expected after military sent in

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2001
Fed: Further action expected after military sent in

By Karen Polglaze

CANBERRA, Aug 29 AAP - A three-day stand-off flared into armed confrontation today
after Australian commandos boarded a Norwegian ship headed towards Christmas Island.

Shipping company Wallenius Wilhelmsen called it an act of piracy to send in the troops.

It is a move Australia must now back up with further military action and which it sought
to reinforce through the introduction of new legislation into the federal parliament late
today.

The escalation came amid intense but fruitless diplomacy between three nations over
the fate of the 438 boat people on board the Tampa.

Faced with threats the distressed boat people would jump overboard if the container
ship moved away from Australia, Tampa Captain Arne Rinnan issued a Mayday call and drove
his ship inside Australia's 12 nautical mile territorial limit.

Australia's military response may have been calculated by the experienced captain.

With his ship licensed to carry 40 passengers and knowing he would face the same refusal
to disembark in Indonesia, Capt Rinnan may have been looking to force Australia to solve
his problem.

Australia says it is Indonesia's problem, since the boatpeople were rescued from an
Indonesian vessel in an area of sea under the responsibility of Indonesian search and
rescue.

Or it is Norway's problem because the Tampa flies Norway's flag.

Australia is involved only because Capt Rinnan, under threat the boatpeople would jump
overboard, diverted from his plan to disembark them in Indonesia.

The federal government considers its position is justied because of the duress that
made the captain head for Christmas Island.

The next step will be the arrival of a Royal Australian Navy frigate now sailing towards
Christmas Island.

In the meantime, the boatpeople have little hope of having any refugee claims looked at.

To claim refugee status, they must be in the migration zone which starts at the low-water
mark rather than the 12-mile limit.

Capt Rinnan's large container ship cannot land at Christmas Island, so getting to the
low-water mark will be impossible unless they are off-loaded.

Australia has said it will take all necessary humanitarian steps.

While that might entail winching off the odd person with a medical emergency via helicopter,
it is unlikely to amount to more than a handful of those on board being able to claim
refugee status.

The government could live with that. It would not affect the overall aim of sending
the message that Australia will be tough on unauthorised entrants.

Domestically, there is plenty of support.

Until tonight's introduction of the new law, the opposition was wholly on side, with
the exception of retiring NSW Labor backbencher Colin Hollis.

But the overwhelming majority of talkback radio listeners are right behind Mr Howard.

The populist backing just weeks before a federal election should keep in line any MPs
beginning to doubt the legal and moral position adopted by the government and supported
by the opposition.

AAP kjp/mo e

KEYWORD: BOAT ANALYSIS

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