Go ashore, UN advises sit-in asylum group

PHOTO

Food and other essentials have been taken aboard the Oceanic Viking, as 78 Sri Lankan asylum seekers continue to refuse to leave the ship. [ABC]

Last Updated: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:18:00 +1100

The United Nations says a group of asylum seekers on board an Australian customs service ship needs to go ashore if they want their refugee claims processed.

The 78 Sri Lankans have been on board the Oceanic Viking for nearly 19 days.

They are refusing to go ashore to Indonesia.

The UN's regional representative, Richard Towle, says some of the group have already been recognised as deserving refugee protection.

But he says they need to leave the ship.

Serious

"If they're serious about having their claims looked at, and really asking for our protection, then they need to take some steps to access us," he said.

The Australian political opposition's immigration spokeswoman, Sharman Stone, says the situation shows the government's approach has not worked.

She says there is a link between the government's policy and the deaths of asylum seekers at sea.