Christmas Island: Scores of asylum-seekers

Four boatloads of would-be immigrants seeking asylum in Australia arrived at Christmas Island within 24 hours, officials said Saturday. Two of the boats were intercepted overnight, The Australian reported. One had 67 Sri Lankan passengers and the other carried 41 people whose nationalities had not been determined. Two other boats were intercepted Thursday night and Friday morning, one with 44 Sri Lankans and the other with 101 Afghans. The total of new arrivals destined for the island between Thursday night and Friday night was 253. Christmas Island, 1,600 miles northwest of the nearest Australian city, Perth, and 220 miles south of Jakarta, is being used to detain asylum seekers. An Australian navy vessel rescued 130 people when a boat en route to Christmas Island sank this week, delivering them to Christmas Island Thursday, shortly before the arrival of another 93 Sri Lankans. Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/06/30/Christmas-Island-Scores-of-asylum-seekers/UPI-79481341035009/#ixzz1zHmCs7Ff