… ADVISING AUSTRALIA NOT TO DEPORT TAMIL ASYLUM SEEKER
On 11 December 2017, the UN Committee Against Torture (CAT) advised the
Australian Government that a Tamil man held in immigration detention in Australia and
in danger of imminent deportation, should not be returned to Sri Lanka. Human rights
law firm, Human Rights for All, filed a complaint to CAT in early December 2017 on
behalf of the man. On 11 December 2017, CAT accepted that the complaint had merit
and issued the interim measure.
The man, who has been refused refugee status in Australia, faces deportation back to
Sri Lanka, where Tamil asylum seekers have been regularly tortured, including through
the use of sexual violence. Returned Tamils also face the risk of unlawful
disappearance and/or subsequent murder, due to perceived or actual association with
the Tamil movement and / or the LTTE.
CAT has requested Australia not deport the man while it considers his case.
Director Principal of Human Rights for All, Alison Battisson, said of the interim order:
“The Committee Against Torture’s interim measure once against highlights the
serious issues faced by Tamil asylum seekers in Australia. By issuing this
measure, the UN recognises that Sri Lanka is not safe for Tamils, despite
Australia denying refugee status to many Tamils.
HR4A is very pleased that the UN Torture Committee has decided to act, and act
quickly, to stop the deportation of this man. These interim measures are quite
rare – this illustrates the very real concern the UN has over Australia’s practices
of refouling Tamils to Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is not safe for many Tamils to return
to.”
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http://cdn-src.tasmaniantimes.com.s3.amazonaws.com/files/unsafe-to-deport-tamils.pdf
Jane Salmon for Alison Battisson, Director Principal of Human Rights for All
