FAR EAST CORRESPONDENT — As the grim details emerge concerning a boat tragedy that appears to have resulted in the deaths of at least 200 people off the Indonesian coast over the weekend, few can be in any doubt that a massive international effort is required to hunt down and prosecute the human smugglers responsible.

In a shocking act of cowardice, asylum seekers watched on helplessly as the captain and five of his crew made off with the few life jackets available. The rest had to make do in a five to six meter swell, with only a handful making it ashore. Read more in The Diplomat.