New evidence people smugglers paid by Australian officials to turn back boats - Amnesty

Amnesty International claims to have new damning evidence that people smugglers were paid $32,000 to go back to Indonesia. If this is so it would mean Australian officials were complicit in the very crime the gov was claiming to be stopping by the "stop the boats" mantra. Amnesty is now demanding a Royal Commission into operation sovereign borders. 

This is Abbott's suposed successful border protection policy he's been telling the Europeans about.

Far from saving lives and stopping people smuggling, we have strong evidence that Operation Sovereign Borders officials have endangered and abused people seeking asylum and illegally paid for people smuggling. 

In May, border officials intercepted a boat with 65 people seeking asylum, including a pregnant woman and 3 small children. Video footage and witness testimonies indicate that officials paid the crew US$32,000 to return to Indonesia with their passengers where they risk further abuse and are unable to rebuild their lives. 

This could constitute funding people smuggling and is the very act that the government is claiming to combat. 

Sadly, our evidence suggests this isn’t the only time our government have grossly abused their power under the banner of Operation Sovereign Borders. 

This is not right. We must hold our leaders to account. 

Officials must also answer to allegations of abuse and endangerment of the passengers seeking asylum. 

After paying-off the crew, our research indicates that officials unlawfully detained the men, women and children in hot, overcrowded cells for a week. 

The passengers were then moved onto two ill-equipped boats bound for Indonesia. 

Sign our petition and demand a Royal Commission to shine a light into Operation Sovereign Borders.