| AFTA urge special consideration for Tamil Victims in Sri Lanka and Student Visa from Chris Evans |
|
|
|
|
"..As you are well aware, many Tamil Australians have lost their relatives in the battle that went on for few months until May 19th 2009. Now relatives of many Tamil Australians are languishing in detention camps surrounded by barbed wire fence. Sri Lanka calls these camps “Welfare Villages” and the media describe these as “Concentration Camps”. Inmates of these camps are not allowed to get out of the camps and it is extremely difficult for relatives from outside to gain access to meet the inmates. These inmates are living in overcrowded temporary shelters with inadequate medical and sanitary facilities. Media reports suggest that 20-30 youth from these camps are being taken away by the Sri Lankan security forces daily with their fate not known..."
Senator the Hon. Chris Evans Dear Hon. Minister Re: Request for special consideration for relatives of Tamil Australians for migration and extension of student visas for Tamil students As the peak body representing the Tamil Australians living in Australia, the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations (AFTA) would like to seek your urgent attention to the need for Australia to consider allowing relatives of them in Sri Lanka who were directly affected by the recent military onslaught and the status of the Tamil students currently pursuing studies in Australia. As you are well aware, many Tamil Australians have lost their relatives in the battle that went on for few months until May 19th 2009. Now relatives of many Tamil Australians are languishing in detention camps surrounded by barbed wire fence. Sri Lanka calls these camps “Welfare Villages” and the media describe these as “Concentration Camps”. Inmates of these camps are not allowed to get out of the camps and it is extremely difficult for relatives from outside to gain access to meet the inmates. These inmates are living in overcrowded temporary shelters with inadequate medical and sanitary facilities. Media reports suggest that 20-30 youth from these camps are being taken away by the Sri Lankan security forces daily with their fate not known. Australian government could help the relatives of the Tamil Australians who are languishing in these camps, if these people are allowed to join their relatives in Australia under an accelerated special family reunion program on humanitarian grounds. It is noted with appreciation that the Canadian government has already embarked on such a program. AFTA also has come to realise that many overseas Tamil students who are already studying in Australia are finding difficult to extend their Visas or apply for residency upon completion of their studies due to the difficulty in obtaining appropriate police clearance if they are from the conflict zone. AFTA will appreciate if special exemptions are made in these cases in the interim until situation returns to normal in those areas. Yours truly,
Mobile : 0402387920 1 July 2009 Copy: Hon. Stephen Smith MP - Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| < Previous | Next > |
|---|
