300 Asylum Seekers Denied Refugee Status
More than 300 asylum seekers shipped to the Pacific nation of Nauru by Australia last year have been denied refugee status, and fears mounted that a boat carrying others has been lost at sea.
The United Nations rejected 219 asylum seekers and Australia an additional 108, most of whom were among 433 boat people rescued by the Norwegian freighter Tampa last August after their vessel began sinking in the treacherous seas between Australia and Indonesia. Most of those rescued were Afghans and Iraqis.
Australia fears that other asylum seekers might have drowned in recent days after their vessel, believed headed for Australia or New Zealand, set out from West Java, Indonesia, 22 days ago. The boat, believed to be carrying 42 asylum seekers, has not been seen since.
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