HUMAN rights lawyer Hugh de Kretser revealed today that asylum-seekers held on an Australian customs vessel for weeks were told they would be put in lifeboats and left to make their own way back to India.

Mr de Kretser represents a boatload of 157 mostly Christian Tamils fleeing persecution in Sri Lanka, who set sail from India hoping to get to Australia.

“These 157 men, women and children have been subjected to a level of cruelty that has no place in modern Australia,” he said.

“They were absolutely terrified at what lay ahead for them,” said Human Rights Law Centre director Mr de Kretser.

“They were terrified of the prospect of being dumped in the ocean on lifeboats, without experience in navigating or operating a boat and having to take responsibility for the families on the boat.”

Mr de Kretser said nine of them had separated from the others while they were still on the customs vessel and told how to use the lifeboats.

They were told in English that there would be 50 to 60 people on each boat and they would have to navigate them back to India.

“When they refused, saying they had no experience in operating or navigating a boat and couldn’t take responsibility for ensuring the safety of those onboard, the officers told them that it was an Australian government decision and they had to obey,” he said.

Asylum-seekers coming ashore in Indonesia have claimed Australian authorities put them on lifeboats and turned them back.