HMAS Perth

[Anzac]

Absolutely disgusting what is happening to this war grave!

Survivors, historians and Defence personnel have been horrified to discover that the wreck of HMAS Perth, which was sunk by the Japanese in 1942, is being destroyed by commercial salvagers in Indonesian waters.

- http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-13/o ... rs/5156320

[Delta Tank]

Anzac,

I thought there was an international law protecting all vessels sunk during combat that still contained human remains? That ship still belongs to Australia, correct?? You are right, disgusting!

Mike

[Takao]

No, international law does not specifically protect sunken ships that may contain the remains of human bodies. Both the United States and United Kingdom have laws on the books stating that they will protect their wrecks wherever located. However, since the Perth, as well as the Houston, lie in Indonesian waters, any protection may be somewhat hard to enforce.

perhaps someone should go and examine the wreck of the USS Houston.

[Anzac]

Interesting..perhaps the Indonesian & Australian governments need to pull their head out of their a** and do something to protect these wrecks. As the wreck will contain remains of fallen sailors, you'd think they would step up to the mark and protect the war dead.

Absolutely disgusting by both governments.

[Delta Tank]

Takao and Anzac,

Hmmm interesting! But, the ship still belongs to Australia according to international law or am I wrong on that?? I have an international law book in the basement, maybe I will find it and look.

I guess making money trumps decency!!

Mike

[Takao]

This might be worth a read, but it is from 1998: http://law.nus.edu.sg/sybil/downloads/a ... 98-142.pdf

This is 2013, money has trumped decency, and pretty much everything else, for a for decades now - well, at least since the late 70's - early 80's.

[Edward L. Hsiao]

Gentlemen,

I read that the Indoniesian divers had found the wreck of the U-168 U-boat not long ago. The researchers are thinking about raising the submarine. The sub was sunk in Indoniesian waters as well.

Sincerely,

Edward L. Hsiao

[Urmel]

Whyhaven't the Australians claimed her as a war grave? That would at least be a first step I guess?