(RTTNews) - An Australian naval ship Tuesday intercepted a boat carrying 41 suspected asylum seekers of not-yet-established nationality, and two crew members, near Ashmore islands off Western Australia--the fourth boat in four days and the forty-third vessel to be intercepted in Australian waters this year.

The boat was initially detected by an RAAF P3 aircraft, and subsequently intercepted by the HMAS Broome late Monday night.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said the boat people would be transferred to Christmas Island where they would undergo security, identity and health checks. He said the government had an orderly and planned immigration program and placed a high priority on protecting Australia's borders from irregular maritime arrivals.

O'Connor said the precarious economic situation around the world was forcing many displaced persons to look for settlement elsewhere--including Australia--and warned that such people could be fall a prey to people-smugglers. He said the UNHCR 2008 Global Trends report indicated there were 42 million forcibly-displaced persons worldwide at the end of last year, including 15.2 million refugees.
"People-smuggling is not just an issue for Australia, it is a global and regional problem," he added.

As of Monday night, just over 1,100 asylum-seekers were being detained on the Christmas island, whose capacity of 1,200 persons was increased to 1,400 in recent days, with the conversion of recreation space.

Australia has granted 800 asylum-seekers with permanent visas and allowed them settle in that country, while 118 have been returned to their respective homelands.

by RTT Staff Writer

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