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Tag Archives: Tamils

Temporary Protection Visas – failed policy recycled for political benefit

November 13, 2009 – 2:23 pm

Malcolm Turnbull has announced his party will readopt a form of temporary protection visas for refugees who arrive in boats. Quite why refugees who arrive in planes and later claim asylum get treated differently was never explained in the past and remains unexplained now.
Even more inexplicable is why the temporary protection visa (TPV) would be [...]

By Andrew Bartlett | Posted in refugees | Also tagged , | Comments (7)

High Commissioner’s attacks on Tamils guarantee they will be allowed to stay

October 30, 2009 – 2:28 pm

Comments about Tamil asylum seekers by the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia, Mr Senaka Walgampaya, provide a strong reason why the asylum seekers should not be returned to Sri Lanka. Is also makes it almost certain they will meet the criteria of Refugee Convention, even if they didn’t before.
Mr Walgampaya, who speaks of course [...]

By Andrew Bartlett | Posted in human rights, international issues, refugees | Also tagged , | Comments (6)

Tamils in Torres Strait

April 14, 2009 – 12:46 pm

The Torres News – newspaper for the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Areas of Cape York – has a piece on their website (and the front page of their dead tree version) about the recent arrival of fifty Tamil asylum seekers in the region.
They raise the curious question of “why the vessel and its occupants [...]

By Andrew Bartlett | Posted in human rights, international issues, refugees | Also tagged , , | Comments (2)