Thursday, January 6, 2005
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — The Australian Government has said in response to the recent Tsunami tragedy that it may take Sri Lankans as humanitarian refugees, but Sri Lankans already in the Australian community are being overlooked, according to Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition. Hundreds were issued their deportation orders on Christmas Eve, and similar conditions affect people from Aceh in Indonesia, where the quake was focused.
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MEDIA RELEASE
COMPASSION COULD START AT HOME – VISAS FOR SRI LANKANS COULD EASE THE SUFFERING OF HUNDREDS IN AUSTRALIA
Refugee advocates have added their voices to calls from representatives of the Sri Lankan community for the federal government to recognize the suffering of hundreds of Sri Lankans on bridging visas and for 14 asylum seekers being held in detention.
“Granting humanitarian visas to these people would be a small gesture by the government, but would make a huge difference to the suffering of Sri Lankans already living in the Australian community,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
The government has said that it is willing to consider taking Sri Lankans as humanitarian refugees, just as they did in the crisis in Kosovo, but Sri Lankans already in the Australian community are being overlooked. Compassion shouldn’t end at the boundary of the migration zone,” he said.
While the federal government has announced it will consider fast tracking temporary visas for the families of Sri Lankan residents, the government has overlooked the plight of hundreds of Sri Lankans whose lives and families have been devastated by the catastrophe of the tsunami.
The offer will not apply to around 500 Sri Lankans presently on bridging visas. Many of theses people and their families have been living in the Australia for many years with families and lives established in the community.
Yet on Cristmas eve, the government sent letters to hundreds of these Sri Lankans requiring them to make arrangements to leave the country within 28 days.
“This was inexcusable at the time, but given the catastrophe of the tsunami, to continue to refuse visas to these people and their families, is unforgivably cruel and spiteful,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition. Sri Lankans who made inquiries to the Department of Immigration were told that they could extend the deadline for only one month.
“In the circumstances is even more ridiculous to propose that these people should be forced to return to Sri Lanka,” he said. “Many have lost family members and have no homes to return to.”
“It is in the government’s power to make a huge difference to the lives of hundreds of Sri Lankans and their families. It would cost them nothing, but so far the government has ignored the suffering of those that it can most easily assist,” said Ian Rintoul.
Similar considerations apply to Achenese whose homeland suffered even greater devastation.
SRI LANKAN ASYLUM SEEKERS IN DETENTION
There are 14 Sri Lankans being held in Baxter detention center. Ten of these are from that have been directly affected by the tsunami with whole families have been displaced and villages wiped out. While most have been able to confirm the safety of their parents, the fate of other imdediate family members is unknown.
Just before Christmas one asylum seeker was deported to Sri Lanka. Following the deportation, other Sri Lankans at Baxter detention staged a hunger strike in a desperate attempt to draw attention to their circumstances. Now the tsunami has thrown their detention into sharp humanitarian relief.
“Humanitarian grounds alone demands the release of the Sri Lankans in detention and humanitarian visa to allow them to bring family members to Australia. How can the government square their compassionate aid efforts with the on-going suffering of Sri Lankans being detained by the Australian government?” said Ian Rintoul.
The deportation of two Iranians from the same compound as the Sri Lankans in Baxter has added to the fears of refugee supporters that the government is using the tsunami to avoid media or community attention on unpopular decisions.
For more information contact, Refugee Action Coalition, Ian Rintoul, 0417 275 713, or Victorian Tamil community spokesperson Nagamuthu Wickiramasingham 0404 059 231
The Australian Government has said in response to the recent tsunami tragedy that it may take Sri Lankans as humanitarian refugees. Sri Lankans already in the Australian community, however, are being overlooked, according to Ian Rintoul of the Refugee Action Coalition. The government issued hundreds of Sri Lankans their deportation orders on Christmas Eve, and similar conditions affect people from Aceh in Indonesia, near the epicenter of the quake.

The Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) said it has had a special hotline running since December 30 in response to the tsunami disaster. 

"People who usually live in an area that has been directly affected by the tsunamis and may wish to temporarily extend their stay in Australia should contact the Department on the hotline on 1300 735 683," a Department spokesperson said.