Australia defence chief denies asylum seeker abuse
Published: 7:27PM Thursday January 09, 2014 Source: AAP
Defence chief General David Hurley has rejected claims Australian navy personnel mistreated asylum seekers, while not denying reports that boats were towed back to Indonesia.
General Hurley says Defence personnel conduct themselves in a "humane and considerate" way while protecting Australia's borders, contrary to the claims of the asylum seekers who say members of the navy verbally and physically mistreated them.
One, 28-year-old Yousif Ibrahim of Sudan, told news agency AFP they were handcuffed and called insulting names during a voyage back to Indonesia this month.
"We asked for water, they didn't want to give us," he said.
"They called us inhuman words, like illegal refugees, monkeys from Africa."
General Hurley did not confirm the tow-back operation took place, but he issued a statement disputing the asylum seekers' account.
"Defence Force personnel assigned to Operation Resolute are required to conduct operations in an unpredictable and demanding environment under intense scrutiny," he said.
"They are trained to operate with the highest degree of professionalism and integrity and consistently demonstrate great compassion and courage, often at great risk to their own safety."
