Last month, members of the Afghan community in Brisbane expressed concern about the vessel, which they think had more than 100 people on board. But the Australian Government says it knows nothing about the boat.
In early October, Mirza Hussain Jaffari apparently called his family from Indonesia, saying he was on a boat about to head towards Australia. He said 107 people were on the boat, which was new.
Mirza Hussain Jaffari's cousin, Jaffar Hussain, is speaking from Afghanistan.
JAFFAR HUSSAIN: Mirza Hussain Jaffari spoke to his family in early October, probably the 2nd of October at midnight when he last time called his family and said that he's now leaving for Australia by boat.
DAVID WEBER: He did not say where he was leaving from?
JAFFAR HUSSAIN: No he did not mention about the place he was leaving from because he was, maybe he didn't thought it necessary because his family doesn't know about Indonesia at all. He said that there are other Hazaras, other Afghans, who are on board.
DAVID WEBER: Why did Mirza Hussain Jaffari leave Afghanistan?
JAFFAR HUSSAIN: There are various reasons. The first thing is really security and political instability in Afghanistan. These village has been under attack for the last three years by Taliban-supported Kuchi tribes.
DAVID WEBER: Does he have a wife and children?
JAFFAR HUSSAIN: No he does not have a wife and children. He has a mother, three sisters, one younger brother.
DAVID WEBER: So it was a big decision for him to go because he had people relying on him in Afghanistan?
JAFFAR HUSSAIN: Yes it was a very difficult decision for him and we also don't know how he paid thousands of dollars to smugglers to take him to Australia. Where did he find it from? Maybe he sold a part of his land or something.
DAVID WEBER: Mr Hussain has called on the Australian Government to hold an investigation, and release any information it may have.
JAFFAR HUSSAIN: If they are in the custody of the Australian Government, if they are held in any detention centres, the families have not heard from their relatives for last three months and they are very much concerned and worried.
If the Australian Government does not have any information about the boat, we appeal from the Government of Australia to contact the authorities in Indonesia and start a search and rescue operation for them.
DAVID WEBER: A spokesman for the Federal Government says there's no evidence that a boatload of more than 100 people left Indonesia on or about October the 2nd and he says it's only speculation that a vessel sank.
-ABC
HAZARA NEWS WESTERN AUSTRALIA
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