asylum seekers continue to drown under abbott

ABC Online...
Indonesian rescue authorities say 22 asylum seekers died when their boat sank off the south coast of west Java.

Speaking on the basis of information provided by local police, rescue authorities say 22 bodies and 25 survivors have been found.

As many as 30 are still feared missing but Indonesian rescue authorities do not have the capability to search at night, or in big seas, so there was little hope of them being found overnight.

The boat sank in big waves off Argabinta, a remote area of coast off the Cianjur region of west Java.

The survivors were taken to a local Islamic school or pesantren for shelter but it is expected they will be moved to an immigration detention facility today.

The dead bodies were to be taken to a local health centre but it is too small to house them.

The tragedy comes as a diplomatic row continues to simmer over Australia's plans to turn back asylum boats.

Meanwhile, Australian authorities are attempting to return a second group of asylum seekers to Indonesia after rescuing them at sea.

The Australian Customs ship, ACV Triton, has been given permission to enter Indonesian waters to offload 31 asylum seekers rescued overnight.

It will be the second time since yesterday that Australian rescue authorities have returned asylum seekers to Indonesia.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) told its Indonesian equivalent Basarnas the "preference is for a transfer at sea" to Indonesian authorities.

Dave R.