By NNN-Bernama,
Melbourne : All the 42 Afghan asylum-seekers who survived when a boat they were on exploded near Ashmore Reef, north of Australia, in April will be granted permanent residency in Australia, according to The Australian newspaper.
The Afghan men from the boat which was set alight on April 16 will be released into the community this week, ahead of a coroner’s inquest into the cause of the blaze which killed five of their fellow passengers, the newspaper says.
Police believe the fire was deliberately lit by one or more of the asylum-seekers but do not have enough evidence to lay any charges. An inquest in January is expected to find out more about what happened.
The newspaper says it understands that if any of the asylum-seekers is convicted of serious charges as a result of the inquest, Immigration Minister Chris Evans is prepared to cancel the visa and deport him.
When the men are granted their permanent protection visas this week, the total number of asylum-seekers to be granted protection visas since a run of boats that began last September will reach 687.
The men from the boat that exploded are being detained in Perth and Brisbane, not on Christmas Island detention centre because of their special medical needs.