Asylum Seekers: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd: The sinking occurred days after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd changed Australias refugee policy so that people who arrive by boat will no longer be allowed to settle in the country. The move was a response to domestic political pressure and a string of deadly accidents involving rickety boats packed with asylum seekers bound for Australia, according to 660 News. West Java police spokesman Col. Martinus Sitompul said the survivors included a pregnant Sri Lankan woman who was being treated at a health centre in the town of Cidaun. A baby boy and a 10-year-old girl were among the dead and BANDUNG, Indonesia Rescuers were searching for several asylum seekers believed to be missing from a boat that sank off Indonesia while heading to Australia. Nearly 190 survivors were brought to safety and nine bodies were recovered. Local police chief Lt. Col. Dedy Kusuma said Wednesday that 189 people were rescued and nine bodies were recovered after the tugboat sank Tuesday night about 5 kilometres 3 miles off the coast of West Javas Cianjur district. It was not clear how many people were missing. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.