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Christmas Island, an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, has been the site of several notable incidents. The island's history includes the Tampa Affair of 2001, when the Australian government prevented a Norwegian ship carrying 438 asylum seekers from disembarking, and the 2010 Christmas Island boat disaster, in which an Indonesian fishing boat carrying 89 asylum seekers and 3 crew members sank, resulting in 50 deaths. These events have had significant political and humanitarian implications for Australia, including the development of stricter border protection policies and ongoing debates about asylum seeker policies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 15 December 2010 |
| Incident | An Indonesian fishing boat (known as the Janga and referred to as SIEV-221 by Australian Government authorities) carrying 89 asylum seekers and 3 crew members sank after being dashed against the rocks near Rocky Point, Christmas Island |
| Deaths | 50 |
| Survivors | 42 (22 adult males, nine adult females, seven male minors, and four female minors) |
| Survivors' nationalities | 27 from Iran, seven from Iraq, five were stateless, and three were from Indonesia |
| Crew members' fate | Convicted of people smuggling offenses in Australia |
| Other consequences | Three children were left orphaned; amateur video of the sinking of SIEV-221, captured by Christmas Island residents, was broadcast on the evening news in Australia on 10 December; the incident escalated domestic political debate in Australia regarding asylum seekers arriving by boat, and became a turning point in asylum seeker policy |
| Location | Christmas Island, an external Australian territory located approximately 360 kilometers to the south of Java, Indonesia and 2,660 kilometers from the Australian mainland |
| Distance from Australian mainland | 2,660 kilometers |
| Distance from Java, Indonesia | 360 kilometers |
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What You'll Learn
The 2010 Christmas Island boat disaster
On 15 December 2010, an Indonesian fishing boat carrying 89 asylum seekers and 3 crew members sank after colliding with rocks near Rocky Point, Christmas Island, an external Australian territory. The boat, known as the Janga and referred to as SIEV-221 by Australian authorities, was dashed against the rocks by heavy waves, resulting in the deaths of 50 people, including 15 children. The incident was the worst civilian maritime disaster in Australia in over a century.
Christmas Island, located in the Indian Ocean, is an attractive destination for asylum seekers due to its proximity to Indonesia, a key transit country for people smugglers and asylum seekers. The island has a history of receiving asylum seekers, with a permanent immigration detention centre constructed in 2008.
On the morning of the incident, the seas around the island were rough due to the monsoon season, with wind speeds of 20 to 30 knots and wave heights of up to 4 meters. SIEV-221 was first sighted by residents around 5:20 am, and emergency services were notified as the vessel navigated through the heavy seas. The engine of SIEV-221 failed, and the boat began to drift towards Rocky Point, an area of dangerous ocean swells and jagged cliffs. Despite the rescue efforts of customs and navy vessels, the boat was repeatedly struck by waves and dashed against the rocks.
The incident sparked a political debate in Australia regarding asylum seekers arriving by boat and led to changes in asylum seeker policy. The Australian Parliament formed a bipartisan committee to investigate the incident, and the search and rescue efforts of Christmas Island residents and customs personnel were commended. The disaster highlighted the dangers faced by asylum seekers and the challenges of rescue operations in treacherous conditions.
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The Tampa affair
Christmas Island is an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean. It was the site of the Tampa Affair in 2001, when the Australian government stopped a Norwegian vessel, the MV Tampa, from entering Australian waters to unload 438 rescued asylum seekers on the island. The asylum seekers had been picked up from a stranded Indonesian vessel by the MV Tampa, which was then refused entry to Christmas Island by the Australian government.
The captain of the MV Tampa, Arne Rinnan, declared a state of emergency, forcing the ship into Australian territorial waters near the island. This sparked a diplomatic dispute between Australia and Norway. The incident, and the political reactions that followed, became a major issue in the 2001 Australian federal election. The Howard government implemented the "Pacific Solution", which meant that Christmas Island and several other islands were excised from Australia's migration zone. This meant asylum seekers arriving on these islands could not apply for refugee status in Australia.
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Japanese invasion in 1942
Christmas Island, an Australian external territory in the Indian Ocean, was invaded by the Japanese in 1942. The island was targeted due to its rich phosphate deposits and strategic location.
The Japanese invasion of Christmas Island began in January 1942 when Japanese submarines torpedoed and sank a Norwegian vessel off West White Beach. Following this attack, 50 Asian and Australian families were evacuated to Perth. On 31 March 1942, approximately 850 Japanese troops arrived by sea and occupied the island. They restarted phosphate mining operations, producing valuable fertiliser for the Empire of Japan. However, many workers fled into the jungle to avoid capture.
The Japanese invasion disrupted the island's phosphate industry, which had been the primary economic activity on Christmas Island since the late 19th century when abundant phosphate deposits were discovered. The island was originally annexed by Britain in 1888, and commercial mining began in 1899.
During World War II, the Japanese occupation of Christmas Island lasted until August 1945 when Japan surrendered. In October 1945, the island was reoccupied by the British. In 1948, the Australian and New Zealand governments purchased the Christmas Island Phosphate Company, and administrative responsibility shifted to the British colony of Singapore.
In 1958, sovereignty of Christmas Island was transferred from Singapore to Australia, with the latter paying Singapore compensation for the loss of phosphate revenue. This transfer occurred under the Christmas Island Act in both countries, and the island officially became a territory of Australia on 1 October 1958, a day now celebrated as Territory Day.
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Sovereignty transferred to Australia in 1958
Christmas Island was annexed by Britain in 1888 after the discovery of abundant phosphate deposits, and commercial mining began in 1899. The island was invaded by the Japanese in 1942 to secure these deposits, and administrative responsibility for the island shifted from the UK to the British colony of Singapore.
In 1958, sovereignty was transferred from Singapore to Australia, with the latter paying Singapore £2,800,000 as compensation for lost phosphate revenue. The transfer of sovereignty was enabled by the UK's Christmas Island Act, which was given royal assent by Queen Elizabeth II on 14 May 1958. Australia's Christmas Island Act was passed in September 1958, and the island officially became a territory of Australia on 1 October 1958. This date is celebrated on the island as Territory Day.
The transfer of sovereignty did not involve the local population, who were given the option to remain Singaporean citizens or become Australian citizens. D.E. Nickels was appointed as the first official representative of the new territory, and in a media statement, the minister for territories, Paul Hasluck, emphasised Nickels' valuable knowledge of the Malay language and Asian customs in the inauguration of Australian administration.
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Phosphate deposits and mining
Phosphate deposits were discovered on Christmas Island in the late 19th century. Originally deposited as guano, the deposits were mined for fertiliser. This led Britain to annex the island in 1888 and begin commercial mining in 1899. The British Crown leased the island to naturalist John Murray and George Clunies-Ross, the owner of the Cocos Islands, who set up the Christmas Island Phosphate Company to mine the island. The company made its first major shipment of phosphate in 1900.
Most of the work in the phosphate industry was performed by indentured migrant labourers, including several hundred Chinese, as well as Malays and Sikhs. These migrants formed the basis of the island's multicultural community. However, Christmas Island's early phosphate workers endured appalling conditions. In the first five years of mining, more than 500 Chinese died from beriberi, a vitamin deficiency caused by an inadequate diet.
The island's rich phosphate deposits and strategic location made it a target for the Japanese during World War II. The Japanese invaded the island in 1942 to secure its phosphate deposits, and they restarted phosphate operations, producing valuable fertiliser for the Empire of Japan. However, many workers fled into the jungle, and very little phosphate was actually exported to Japan due to bombing by Allied forces and acts of sabotage by the remaining islanders.
After the war, the Australian and New Zealand governments purchased the Christmas Island Phosphate Company in 1949, and administrative responsibility for the island shifted from the UK to the British colony of Singapore. In 1958, sovereignty was transferred from Singapore to Australia, with Australia paying Singapore £2,800,000 as compensation for lost phosphate revenue.
Phosphate mining has been the only significant economic activity on Christmas Island for many years. However, in December 1987, the Australian government closed the mine, causing a devastating impact on the island's economy and community. The mine was reopened by Phosphate Resources Limited in 1991, with many former mine workers as shareholders. In recent years, there has been concern about the impact of phosphate mining on the Abbott's booby, an endangered seabird that only nests on Christmas Island.
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Frequently asked questions
The Christmas Island incident refers to the 2010 Christmas Island boat disaster, in which an Indonesian fishing boat carrying asylum seekers sank after being dashed against rocks near the island. 50 people died and 42 were rescued.
The boat, SIEV-221, was a small, wooden Indonesian fishing boat that was stripped of most of its equipment. Its engine failed, causing it to drift towards Rocky Point, where it was struck by heavy waves and dashed against the rocks.
The incident escalated political debate in Australia regarding asylum seekers arriving by boat and led to the development of new asylum seeker policies. It was the worst civilian maritime disaster in Australia in over a century and led to ongoing support and counselling for residents and survivors.
The Tampa affair, or Tampa Crisis, refers to an incident in 2001 when the Australian government stopped a Norwegian ship, MV Tampa, from disembarking 438 rescued asylum seekers on Christmas Island. This sparked a diplomatic dispute and led to the implementation of the 'Pacific Solution', which excised Christmas Island from Australia's migration zone.
