Lankan Tamils should not be given automatic refugee - UN
July 6, 2010 07:15 am
The United Nations refugee agency in its revised asylum guidelines say that Tamils from
But the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says the situation is still evolving and all claims by Sri Lankan asylum seekers should be considered “on the basis of their individual merits”.
The Australian government suspended the processing of Sri Lankan asylum claims in April. It argued the move was justified by improving circumstances in the country.
The UNHCR’s latest eligibility guidelines for
“In light of the improved human rights and security situation in Sri Lanka, there is no longer a need for group-based protection mechanisms or for a presumption of eligibility for Sri Lankans of Tamil ethnicity originating from the north of the country,” the guidelines state.
But the UNHCR notes that following the end of the armed conflict the
situation in
Certain people are still at risk of persecution.
People with links to the Tamil Tigers, some journalists, homosexuals and certain women and children still face real danger.
“Despite the end of hostilities, there are still reportedly incidents of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls in former conflict areas,” the UNHCR states.
United States-based Human Rights Watch on Tuesday called on the Gillard government to immediately resume processing asylum claims.