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The M/V Tampa incident 2007, diptych c-prints 91 x 118 cm On the 26th of august 2001 the norwegian cargo ship M/V Tampa rescues 483 refugees from a sinking fishing boat. The refugees are on their way from Indonesia to Australia, where they are going to seek political asylum When M/V Tampa reaches Christmas Island – the closest port – they are denied permission to land. The conflict escalates when Tampa refuses to leave and australian troops are brought in. Tampa waits for four days just outside australian territorial waters. The Captain of M/V Tampa, Arne Rinnan, later recounts how the refugees used to sit on the deck, watching Christmas Island. |