By Irving Feng
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
The UK denied asylum for Sri Lankan refugees and deported them back to their potentially dangerous homeland where the refugees fear violence and torture.
The Sri Lankan refugees who have been denied asylum belong to the Tamil ethnic group. Many of these refugees had been involved with, or supported, the separatist group, the Tamil Tigers, that fought in a civil war for self-rule for twenty six years in Sri Lanka. The civil war drew to a conclusion in 2009 after producing roughly 100,000 casualties.
Human rights groups and the refugees themselves have alleged mistreatment for those returning back to post-civil war Sri Lanka. There have been reports of detainment, physical abuse and torture for any returning Tamils that were known associates or loose affiliates of the separatist group, the Tamil Tigers.
Sri Lankan presidential adviser, Rajiva Wijesinha, reminds the public, however, that the UK itself has quelled these public fears and the returning refugees would not be subject to torture or mistreatment of any kind. The UK alleges that only high level activists within the Tamil Tiger organization returning to Sri Lanka may be targeted by the government. Other returning refugees are in no such danger.
However, conflicting reports from human rights groups have alleged that any refugees associated with the separatist group, no matter their level of involvement, would be at risk for mistreatment. One Tamil man’s reaction was that he would rather commit suicide in the UK after being denied asylum rather than returning to Sri Lanka and be subject to torture.
Malar Rajendran may be a living example of the Sri Lankan government mistreating returning Tamil refugees. Rajendran’s husband was a low ranking member of the Tamil Tiger organization. When Rajendran’s initial asylum application had been denied, she was deported back to Sri Lanka in 2009. The 49 year old woman was immediately detained upon her return, and she experienced brutal physical punishment including being kicked, punched and beaten with an iron rod. Rajendran was also sexually assaulted and raped multiple times by her detainers.
Rajendran’s horrific experience pushed her to escape Sri Lanka and seek asylum for a second time in the UK. The tragic evidence left on Rajendran’s body due to the physical and sexual abuse she experienced after her first deportation persuaded officials in the UK to grant her application for asylum.
Despite human rights groups’ reports of mistreatment and examples like Rajendran’s firsthand experience with brutal physical and sexual mistreatment, asylum applications continue to be denied by UK officials and the deportations continue. The UK continues to deport asylum seekers who they believe no longer require the protection of their borders.
For further information, please see:
BBC – Deported Sri Lankans arrive home from UK amid torture fears – 20 September 2012
The Indian Express – UK to evict Lankan asylum seekers despite ‘Tamil allegations of torture’ – 19 September 2012
The Guardian – Britain is returning Tamil refugees to be tortured in Sri Lanka – 19 September 2012
Al Jazeera – Tamil asylum seeker in UK voices torture fear – 18 September 2012
