Indonesian rescuers saved 12 men and a woman out at sea on Monday near Indonesia's East Java.<br/> They were on a packed boat of asylum seekers bound for Australia last week, when it broke apart in stormy seas.<br/> The asylum seekers were brought into the town of Puger, and many were visibly suffering from severe dehydration and exhaustion.<br/> The crowded boat, which could only hold 100 people, was said to have carried over 250 people.<br/> Officials said at least 200 people are still missing.<br/> Many of the passengers are believed to be economic migrants from Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Bahasa Indonesia) AN AFGHAN SURVIVOR, HABIB ALI SAYING:<br/> "To Australia, I am from Afghanistan."<br/> Boat people are a major political issue in Australia.<br/> The Australian government says its tough policy is a deterrent to people smugglers, but refugee and humanitarian groups say it has little impact on the lucrative trade.<br/> Sophia Soo, Reuters.
