New details have emerged about asylum seeker claims that Australian sailors mistreated them during a boat interception operation earlier this month.
A Somali asylum seeker has told the ABC that there were angry protests when people found out the boat was being turned around and they were being returned to Indonesia.
He alleges that during the onboard argument he suffered burns when he came into contact with a hot engine after an Australian sailor sprayed him in the eyes.
The Government has emphatically rejected the claims of mistreatment.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says it is normal for Navy personnel to carry personal defensive equipment and described suggestions that they had been used outside standard procedure as “baseless”.
Until now access to the asylum seekers and more detail of their allegations has been hard to come by.
But four men managed to escape the watch of Indonesian authorities and leave their hotel to give the ABC a more detailed account.
Twenty-year-old Somali asylum seeker Boby Nooris was on a boat which was intercepted by the Australian Navy in the first week of January.
He says that when Australian Navy personnel came on board two of the boat’s three engines were broken and a third was damaged.
However, Mr Nooris has told the ABC the asylum seekers did not break the engines.
“There was two arguments happening at the time. The first argument was happening down in the engine room; I was up and down to get a bag that has my stuff.
“When I got down I was sprayed in my eyes.”
Other asylum seekers have alleged that they were forced to hold onto hot pipes but the 20-year-old says he suffered burns on his hands because he was blinded after sailors responded with force, using some sort of spray.
“There was an argument do you understand. When they spray me in the eyes I couldn’t see anything.
“While I was looking for a way out I stumble on the engine and my hand got burnt.”
Mr Nooris says he then threw himself into the sea.
“I felt pain like chillies went into my eyes. I could not see anything, it was dark, and I threw myself into the sea.”
He says he was pulled back on board, his hands were bandaged, but he was refused painkillers.
He and the other three asylum seekers say they are prepared to cooperate with any Australian investigation.
Use of personal defensive equipment is standard: Morrison
While not confirming the use of spray, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison says in a statement that personal defensive equipment is standard issue in maritime operations.
“Such equipment is also commonly issued in domestic law enforcement across Australia,” he said.
“Border Protection Command personnel are trained in the use of these devices consistent with the strict guidelines governing their use.
“If required, medical assistance is also provided to any persons who have been subjected to the use of this equipment.
He also says any claim that such devices were used in a manner outside standard procedure is baseless.
“Any suggestion that the appropriate use of such devices would in any way legitimise baseless and offensive allegations of torture, recently made against our Navy and Customs and Border Protection personnel by people who have admitted to seeking to illegally enter Australia, are also rejected outright.”
Before the onboard altercation the 20-year-old secretly recorded some of the Australian sailors on his phone.
The ABC has viewed this footage and at least one sailor can be seen carrying a camera.
Mr Nooris and the other asylum seekers believe the Navy will have evidence.
Source: ABC News