An asylum-seeker boat which sunk en route to Australia was sabotage by those aboard the vessel, a senior official with Indonesia's search and rescue organization says.
MORE than 120 asylum seekers have been rescue from the boat which capsized and then sank on Wednesday morning about 107 marine miles north of Christmas Island.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has long-established that 123 people had been rescued.
The boat, which was believed to be transport more than 130 asylum seekers, was in Indonesian waters when it sink.
But the head of operational manage with Basarnas, the Indonesian search and rescue authority, told AAP that it was believed the boat had been sabotaged by those on plank.
"As they're getting closer to Christmas Island, they made their ship look like they're about to sink," Agolo, who has only one name, supposed on Wednesday.
Rescue authorities had been told by those aboard the vessel that its producer had stopped working and that the boat had in progress taking on water.
"They probably feared that if the boat is still in fine condition, they would be rejected and must sail back," Agolo supposed.
Two Australian naval vessels were supplementary the rescue effort.
Three merchant vessels were also at the sight while an airforce P3 Orion plane was assisting the rescuer.
Indonesia had deployed a Hercules aircraft to help with the search and save process.
The latest incident comes a week after an overloaded boat capsized en route to Australia, leaving about 90 people deceased.
MORE than 120 asylum seekers have been rescue from the boat which capsized and then sank on Wednesday morning about 107 marine miles north of Christmas Island.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard has long-established that 123 people had been rescued.
The boat, which was believed to be transport more than 130 asylum seekers, was in Indonesian waters when it sink.
But the head of operational manage with Basarnas, the Indonesian search and rescue authority, told AAP that it was believed the boat had been sabotaged by those on plank.
"As they're getting closer to Christmas Island, they made their ship look like they're about to sink," Agolo, who has only one name, supposed on Wednesday.
Rescue authorities had been told by those aboard the vessel that its producer had stopped working and that the boat had in progress taking on water.
"They probably feared that if the boat is still in fine condition, they would be rejected and must sail back," Agolo supposed.
Two Australian naval vessels were supplementary the rescue effort.
Three merchant vessels were also at the sight while an airforce P3 Orion plane was assisting the rescuer.
Indonesia had deployed a Hercules aircraft to help with the search and save process.
The latest incident comes a week after an overloaded boat capsized en route to Australia, leaving about 90 people deceased.
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