Asylum seekers on Ocean Viking make 'final decision'

Last Updated: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 05:06:00 +1100

After weeks of negotiations, 78 Sri Lankans aboard the Oceanic Viking have rejected all offers from Australian officials and declared that their 'final decision' is to remain on the Australian ship.

In handwritten letters thrown from the Oceanic Viking, the 78 Sri Lankans still on board have announced they are rejecting all offers made by Australian officials in negotiations over the past few weeks.

Addressed to the 'Head of Immigration Resettlement Unit at the Australian Embassy' the letters say 'you talked to us' about '[giving] us resettlement very quickly' if the group agreed to go ashore in Indonesia.

'We are not ready to back to Indonesia. This is our final decision'.

The letters also allege mistreatment by Australian customs officials, who have allegedly tried to 'push' the asylum seekers ashore by, it's alleged, giving little food and not allowing them to shower and 'using bad words'.