Lankan asylum seekers to be deported from Britain
June 15, 2011 12:42 pm
Dozens of Sri Lankan asylum seekers including some with links to the Tamil Tigers are expected to be deported from Britain to return to the country.
About 40 are believed to be facing deportation, with human rights campaigners fearing the refugees may suffer reprisals in Sri Lanka.
News of the deportations came as Channel 4 showed video footage of alleged atrocities carried out during the final weeks of the 2009 conflict.
Channel 4 claimed the group of asylum seekers, many of whom are Tamil, were being forced back into danger with a flight believed to be scheduled for tomorrow.
Five of the 40 said their lives were at risk after claiming UK officials had passed paperwork about their cases to the Sri Lankan authorities.
Sam Zarifi, the Asia programme director for Amnesty International, said there was evidence that failed asylum seekers had been tortured.
He said: “If people are being returned to Sri Lanka, who are known or are suspected to be Tamils associated with the LTTE, the possibility of reprisals from the authorities are a concern.”
A UK Border Agency spokesperson said: “Returns to Sri Lanka will only be undertaken if we are satisfied that the individual has no protection needs. The improving situation in Sri Lanka has meant it is safe to remove people there.” (The Telegraph)
About 40 are believed to be facing deportation, with human rights campaigners fearing the refugees may suffer reprisals in Sri Lanka.
News of the deportations came as Channel 4 showed video footage of alleged atrocities carried out during the final weeks of the 2009 conflict.
Channel 4 claimed the group of asylum seekers, many of whom are Tamil, were being forced back into danger with a flight believed to be scheduled for tomorrow.
Five of the 40 said their lives were at risk after claiming UK officials had passed paperwork about their cases to the Sri Lankan authorities.
Sam Zarifi, the Asia programme director for Amnesty International, said there was evidence that failed asylum seekers had been tortured.
He said: “If people are being returned to Sri Lanka, who are known or are suspected to be Tamils associated with the LTTE, the possibility of reprisals from the authorities are a concern.”
A UK Border Agency spokesperson said: “Returns to Sri Lanka will only be undertaken if we are satisfied that the individual has no protection needs. The improving situation in Sri Lanka has meant it is safe to remove people there.” (The Telegraph)
