Indonesians jailed over 'Tampa' affair

Indonesians jailed over 'Tampa' affair

Agence France-Presse, Perth, Australia

An Australian court sentenced two Indonesians Friday to jail terms ranging from four to seven years for their role in an ill- fated attempt to smuggle more than 400 asylum seekers into Australia last year.

Bastian Disun, 33, and Norbames Nurdin, 32, faced up to 20 years in prison over the so-called Tampa affair, which turned the world spotlight on Australia's hardline policy on boat people.

Two other Indonesians were acquitted late Thursday in the case involving a bid to smuggle 434 mostly Afghan asylum-seekers from Indonesia to Australia's remote Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.

The four defendants were crewmen on the fishing boat Palapa and had pleaded innocent, saying they were duped by Indonesian people smugglers who have grown rich plying their trade.

In handing down the sentences Friday, judge Allan Fenbury expressed regret at jailing the two men but said it was necessary to deter other poor Indonesian fishermen who might be tempted to help people smugglers.

Disun was the captain of the Palapa, a 20-meter (66-foot) fishing boat which broke down near Christmas Island in August 2001.

A Norwegian freighter, the Tampa, rescued the passengers and crew but was then refused permission by Australia to drop the asylum seekers on Christmas Island.

The affair turned into an international incident as the asylum seekers remained stranded for a week on the Tampa with captain Arne Rinnan refusing to return them to Indonesia and Australia refusing then asylum.