abc again believes unsubstantiated reports!

Australian Navy accused of beating, burning asylum seekers on boat

Asylum seekers have accused the Australian Navy of beating them and inflicting burns by ordering passengers onboard a boat being towed back to Indonesia to hold on to parts of the engine.

The claims of physical abuse come as Canberra is warned that it risks clashes with Indonesia at sea over the Australian Government's asylum seeker policies and the admission that Australian ships have entered Indonesian waters without permission.

ABC News has obtained video footage of asylum seekers receiving medical assessments of burns that Indonesian police say were inflicted by the Australian Navy.

The Federal Government denies the claims, but Indonesian police say they had to get treatment for 10 asylum seekers, seven of whom had severe burns on their hands after they were picked up in Indonesian waters on January 6.

Indonesian police say the burns were from being forced by Navy personnel to hold onto hot pipes coming out of the boat's engine.

Boat passenger Merke Abdullah Ahmed, from Somalia, claims Australian Navy personnel punched some passengers and others were forced to hold onto the hot metal.

"They physically harmed us. Some of the passengers on board, they tried to complain and speak about just their problems. They just punched [them] ... and, you know, fall down on the ground," he said.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has released a statement, saying he would not comment on confirming specific operations but, "the Government rejects any allegation of inappropriate behaviour by our navy or Customs and border protection personnel in the conduct of their duties".

"Smugglers and their clients have strong motivations for seeking to discredit the activities of Australia's border protection operations in an attempt to undermine public support for the Government's strong border policies."

Earlier this month, Mr Morrison confirmed Australian sailors are no longer personally liable for what is done under Operation Sovereign Borders.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-22/australian-navy-accused-of-beating-burning-asylum-seekers/5211996