UK quietly ‘voluntarily’ sends back some Lankan asylum seekers as Australia issues dire warnings – The Island

Global Tamil Forum avoids this problem

Shamindra Ferdinand

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) said the ongoing controversy over the UK’s decision to move Sri Lankans seeking to settle in the UK to what the government called a “safe third country” included that they I will not be involved unless I return to Sri Lanka. “spontaneously”.

About 120 Sri Lankans are in a fenced camp in the US-British territory of Diego Garcia, part of the Chagos Islands that the United Nations has ruled belong to Mauritius and should be returned by December 2019. believed to be contained. The Ocean Islands are part of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). Those representing the interests of the Sri Lankan group want the UK to be allowed to settle in the UK.

Island asked for the GTF’s response to the hotly contested UK move, and also asked if the issue at hand would be raised at the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Person Surren Surendilan sent us the following response: GTF is primarily an international advocacy group. There are various country-specific Tamil organizations. There are also Tamil institutions/organizations, including law firms, acting and lobbying on immigration policy in the UK and various other countries. ”

The United Nations Maritime Court, the United Nations General Assembly and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have ruled that the Chagos Islands belong to Mauritius. The Joint Council on Immigration Welfare said: In a ruthless move, similar to Rwanda’s plans, it appears likely that these same refugees will be deported to third countries. ”

Hassen was referring to agreements with the UK and Rwanda to address people denied UK refugee status.Hassan was further quoted as telling the Guardian: ”

In the ongoing dispute, some of those who were “bound” in disputed British territories have recently “voluntarily” chosen to return to Sri Lanka. Development Minister Jesse Norman told parliament recently that more than 60 Sri Lankans have so far voluntarily returned home. In a separate statement, Home Secretary Claire O’Neill, Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram and Operation Sovereign Borders (OSB) Joint Agency Task Force (JATF) Commander Major General Justin Jones said: issued a dire warning to those who violated their laws. will be dealt with.

Flanked by Commissioner Outram and Rear Admiral Jones, Minister O’Neill declared that Australia’s border protection policy had not changed. If you try to get to Australia by boat, you’ll be sabotaged and turned around, and you’ll end up back in Sri Lanka in far worse conditions than when you got on board. The only way to enter Australia legally is with a valid visa. “

Rear Admiral Jones said he would find, intercept and send back anyone making illegal voyages to Australia. Australia released a video of a young man with slippers disembarking from an Australian ship that brought back a group of people months ago, warning that such an attempt would be totally unacceptable.

A few weeks before President Gotabaya Rajapakse stepped down, Minister O’Neill met with the president and then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Professor GLPeiris to reiterate their claims against the OSB. In exchange for Sri Lanka’s cooperation, Australia stepped up its support to the cash-strapped Sri Lanka, giving free fuel to its Navy and Air Force to sustain operations intended to deter human smuggling.