Tamil Justice

“Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka are legitimate in their fears of persecution by the Sri Lankan State. If these fears lead the Tamil people to ask for an Independent State, then the Sri Lankan State alone is to be blamed.”
Dr Sam Pari, Official Spokesperson, Australian Tamil Congress

Availability for Comment : Sri Lankan State Responsible for Tamil aspiration for Independence

“Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka are legitimate in their fears of persecution by the Sri Lankan State. If these fears lead the Tamil people to ask for an Independent State, then the Sri Lankan State alone is to be blamed.”

The Australian Tamil Congress completely rejects Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama’s comments that Tamil refugees were seeking asylum for political purposes.

“Espousing for an independent homeland is not against the law,” Tamil Congress Spokesperson Dr Sam Pari stated.

“The Tamil people are continuing to be treated like animals by the Sri Lankan government. Almost a year on, up to 300,000 Tamils are still unable to return to their homeland due to Sri Lankan military occupation. Over 11,000 Tamils, including over 500 children, are being detained by the military in undisclosed areas with no access to family, UN officials, lawyers or independent monitors.”

“If the Tamil people continue to aspire for independence from the racist Sri Lankan regime, then the Sri Lankan regime alone is responsible for this aspiration,” said Dr Pari

Dr Sam Pari is available for interview on this topic Ph: 0433 428 967

Attached is a transcript of a press conference given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith

091108 Transcript – Smith – Press Conference – Sri Lanka, People Smuggling.pdf

Reuters – Australia urges Sri Lanka reforms, reconciliation

Australia on Sunday urged Sri Lanka, having defeated the Tamil Tigers in May, to now embrace political reform and reconciliation to stem the flow of asylum seekers leaving the country.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith will meet his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama in Colombo on Monday amid a standoff in Indonesia involving 78 Tamil asylum seekers, who are refusing to leave an Australian vessel that rescued them last month. More

Western Australian Today – Greens challenge Smith on Tamil camps

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith should push the Sri Lankan government to allow aid agencies access to Tamil camps, the Australian Greens say.

Mr Smith is heading to Colombo for talks that aim to stem an exodus of Tamils from Sri Lanka.

The visit comes as a group of 78 Sri Lankans refuse to leave the Australian Customs vessel Oceanic Viking moored in Indonesian waters.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young is concerned international aid organisations are not able access Tamil camps.

“The first basic step we should be doing is working with the Sri Lankan government to say look guys, we’re going to have to let some organisations in here to help deal with this,” she told ABC Television on Monday. More