On Boxing Day, 2009, the IOM was persuaded to take a box of books and toys donated by Waverley Council in NSW as well as a group in Malaysia. The donation was a Christmas gift for the children on the boat. The gifts were distributed on the 26th as it was considered inappropriate to give presents on the 25th, after the death of Charles Jacob Christin on Christmas Eve.
The presents were received with much excitement.
Despite the death of Jacob (A Roman Catholic) and the significance of Christmas to those of the Christian Faith, about 30 Christians were denied the right to practice their religion. Father Adrianus Suyadi a Roman catholic priest who travelled to Merak on the 27th of December 2009 to provide them with pastoral care during this time was denied access to the boat.
See ABC Australia's article on this issue:
http://www.radioaustralianews
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