Around 50 asylum seekers brought from Christmas Island to Darwin this morning may be the next group of screened out asylum seekers bound to be deported to Sri Lanka.
The screened out Sri Lankan asylum seekers (which includes 6 or 7 Tamils, and over 40 Sinhalese) are presently being taken to the Northern Immigration Detention Centre, the centre that has recently been used to deport the victims of the government’s screening out regime.
The move to deport more screened out asylum seekers comes only one day after the government agreed to screen-in 56 Tamils asylum seekers and allow them to make a protection application in the usual way.
Typically, the government seems to be hiding the controversial deportation move behind the news of releasing hundreds of other asylum seekers on bridging visas.
“We are urging the Minister to halt this deportation, end the charade of screening out and allow these asylum seekers to make a protection application,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“Screening-out is a fundamental violation of the right of asylum seekers to make claims and have them processed. The government is setting itself up as the judge, jury and executioner.
“The Minister well knows that Tamils sent back last Friday were questioned by police and Sri Lankan intelligence. While some have been released they are under strict conditions and curfews and have to report to the Sri Lankan intelligence services. Chris Bowen says he will give no undertaking to monitor the safety of those sent back to Sri Lanka despite the Rajapaksa regime’s history of human rights’ abuse.”
“If the Minister was confident of the legality of the screening out process, he would reveal the details of the screening out interviews. He won’t reveal the details because they are arbitrary and indefensible.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
