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Help Tamil Refugees in Indonesia Reach Safety

January 20, 2010

For the past four months, Tamils fleeing the horror in Sri Lanka have been stranded on a boat in Merak, Indonesia en route to seeking asylum in Australia where their rights would be protected. Despite the fact that over 100 of the refugees have been granted refugee status by UNHCR, Australia has blocked the Tamils’ attempts of asylum by asking the Indonesian President to intercept the boat. As a result, Indonesia intends to forcibly remove Tamils from the boat and place them in local detention centers..

The Tamils have refused to leave the boat out of fear of serving long jail sentences in Indonesia or—even worse—being deported back to Sri Lanka, the very country they are trying to flee. Hundreds of Tamils fled Sri Lanka due to fear of death, torture, or imprisonment. However, conditions on the boat are overcrowded and inhumane.

Two months ago, eight refugees were promised access to the UNHCR. However, promptly after leaving the boat, they were detained by Indonesian authorities. Worse, Indonesia has allowed Sri Lankan government officials to interrogate these eight detainees. These officials are attempting to deport the asylum-seekers and have threatened to send them to Boosa, a Sri Lankan jail infamous for its extensive human rights violations.

The People’s Tribunal on Sri Lanka has just recently found the Government of Sri Lanka guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Given that Sri Lanka has illustrated complete disregard for the lives of Tamils, it is imperative that those wishing to escape the island’s tragedies be able to do so with safety and dignity.

Human rights advocates around the world are condemning Australia and Indonesia for stalling the refugee boat and allowing Sri Lankan officials to terrorize the already vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees. Australia, as a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, has a responsibility to protect these refugees. The UNHCR is in a singularly powerful position to require Australia to defend the rights of these Tamils. The recent arrival of Sri Lankan officials to Indonesia could result in further violence and the deaths of more innocents. Please ask Australia to work with Indonesia to have them secure safe passage for the Merak boat refugees into Australia.