Tarnishing image of refugees as terrorists is an injustice to humanity


By: SatheesanKumaaran

Tarnishing the image of genuine asylum seekers, with the same brush used to expose terrorists, is just a ploy to reject them, with no consideration of their dire situation as persecuted persons. After spending weeks on the high seas, facing the dangers of such perilous travel on the oceans, in search of protection to try to escape persecution and oppression in their own states, the Tamils flee Sri Lanka. However, the host countries tend to reject these genuine refugees, branding them as terrorists. This is a shame to humanity.

In this paper, we are, in no way, holding a brief for international people, smugglers both from Sri Lanka and of other nationalities, who prey on the desperation of the refugees. They should be dealt with in the severest manner possible. The question, we appreciate, is how they can do this, but that is not to say that genuine refugees should be denied access. There is the recent case of the people smuggler, called Alex, having jumped ship and escaped. This makes it difficult for genuine refugees.

The so-called defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 has created an exodus of refugees from the shores of Sri Lanka. The Tamils, who have been held in detention centers with fist-tight security of the Sri Lankan armed forces with daily tortures and denial of fundamental rights, have been escaping the centers to seek protection. Also, others who were already released, but live in their relative’s homes or temporary shelters, risk their lives. They fear they will get arrested by the security forces again. But, despite the UN agencies’ reports about the plights of the Tamil civilians on the island, some members of the international community refuse to hear of their plights.

Since 1983, Tamil refugees have been seeking new homes to protect their lives and that of their families in foreign climates. It is common knowledge that during the last months of the Sri Lankan war against the LTTE, with the war crimes and the genocide at least 40,000 Tamil civilians killed leaving their near relatives destitute, more than 300,000 Tamils were incarcerated, still with no homes to go to. At least 10,000 suspected LTTE militants have been summarily executed with their immediate relatives left in the lurch.

Tamils would not have risked their lives in the seas if they were allowed to live in peace with freedom in their homeland. They have no choice but to seek out to western countries, so that they can experience equality and freedom. These asylum seekers do not reach other countries to exploit their resources or cause harm to the security of these countries. These people are genuine asylum seekers. But, the recent Australian and Canadian events are clear examples that the western countries have a double standard in dealing with the genuine refugees. Recently in the Australian federal Senate Parliament, the Green party leader, Bob Brown, pointed out that there were nearly 400,000 persons of European origin that have been overstaying their visas for years.

The fear is that there are hundreds of Tamil boat people reaching the shores of Australia and Canada who are facing hardships, despite their genuine claims. The Australian government is negotiating with East Timor and Indonesia to accommodate the Tamil refugees, as well as sending back the refugees who are detained in the Christmas Island, with the promise that these refugees will be provided financial aid by the Australian government to start up small businesses back in Sri Lanka, while Canada fears that they will have to face a dilemma of another 200 or more Tamils who have been sailing towards Vancouver.