THE plight of the refugee boat people especially these aboard a stricken vessel drifting in the Bay of Bengal has come to the fore again ("Deal agreed on migrants", The Herald, May 21).
Having been forcibly rejected by both Thai and Malay authorities the starving men, women and children were befriended by local Indonesian fishermen and steered to the relative safety of land. But for this act of compassion undoubtedly these boat people would have perished.
Questions must surely be raised as to total absence of any of the international aid agencies in this particular case of need and despair. Equally, our own government has been slow to act and lead by example. Then again, where there is no political capital or economic advantage to be gained the demise of transient stateless people becomes a secondary consideration.
Some humble fishermen thought otherwise. Thereby the world for some is now a better place following upon these heroic acts of mercy.
Allan C Steele,
22 Forres Avenue, Giffnock.
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