Sri Lanka applauds new Aussie asylum policy
July 7, 2010 07:22 am
Autralian
PM Julia Gillard’s warning that more Sri Lankan refugee claims will fail has
been applauded by the Sri Lankan government. “I
have a message for people in
Yesterday, Ms Gillard announced the government would lift the three-month freeze on new Sri Lankan asylum claims and immediately resume the processing of 184 detained Sri Lankan boatpeople.
“I have a message for people in
“Do not pay a people-smuggler, do not risk your life, only to arrive in Australian waters and find that far, far more likely than not you will be quickly sent home by plane.”
The freeze was imposed to allow the government to review changed country circumstances.
Yesterday,
Ms Gillard’s announcement means authorities can now start processing the 184 Sri Lankans affected by the suspension.
Tamil refugee Nixon, who did not wish to reveal his last name, paid
$US15,000 to board a boat in
The 21-year-old, who spoke to The Australian yesterday through an
interpreter, spent five months in detention on Christmas Island before
receiving a permanent refugee visa and relocating to
Nixon said any border protection policy should be aimed at treating asylum-seekers with respect and humanity.
“One of the people on my boat was so upset about the way things were going
(on
“Any policy should be making sure the mental stability of people who have come all this way is maintained.” Of the 194 Tamils who were on the same boat as Nixon, 20 remain in detention.
Nixon -- who is studying at TAFE and looking for casual work -- said Tony Abbott’s pledge to turn boats around was “absolutely horrible”.
“It is a very dangerous journey . . . I would be very disappointed if