62 Sri Lankan asylum seekers released

By G Vinod - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: After being held at the KLIA depot for 111 days, 62 of the 75 Sri Lankan Tamil asylum seekers were released at 12 noon today by the Immigration Department.
“The 13 still being held are expected to be released tomorrow,”Alternative Action Team (AAT) president B Kalaivanar said at a press conference here today. Also present was Tamil Integrity Movement chief T Sembiyan.

One of the asylum seekers had to be sent for psychiatric treatment for a stress-related ailment.

In April, the 75 Sri Lankan Tamils arrived at Tanjung Piandang, Perak. They claimed to be fleeing from persecution perpetrated by the Singhalese-controlled Sri Lankan government.

However, the Immigration and the Maritime Departments detained them and sent them to the KLIA immigration depot.

When pressed for the details of their release, Kalaivanar told FMT that it was all made possible by those who were sympathetic towards them, including Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

“We have also spoken to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and they were sympathetic.

“We also sent a memorandum to Suhakam commissioner Muhammad Sha'ani Abdullah, who has been very helpful in sorting out the problem.

“When the asylum seekers' protection order lapsed on Aug 8, we immediately sought an appointment with the Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to get them released as it is a requirement under the law,” said Kalaivanar.

Kalaivanar said he met Gani today and he was agreeable to AAT's suggestion that they be released.

“Once they were released, we took them to the UNHCR office in Bukit Petaling for them to sort out their refugee status cards.

“The priority now is to get them proper lodging. From then on, we will assist them in seeking employment,”said Kalaivanar who urged more NGOs to come forward and assist the refugees.

In a related matter, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P Ramasamy said that the DAP will set up a committee to probe atrocities committed by Sri Lankan security forces on the Tamils in May 2009.

“The committee will be headed by Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran and I,” said Ramasamy.

Investigate India's leaders
He said about 50,000 Tamils lost their lives in the final battle between Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tigers and to date, the Sri Lankan government's eight-member panel is delaying investigations.

“The DAP committee will include members of several NGOs and human rights groups. They will assist an independent panel set up by the UN, headed by Indonesia's former attorney-general Marzuki Darusman,” he said.

Ramasamy alleged that the Sri Lankan government could not have perpetrated the killings without the blessings of its powerful neighbour, India.

“I'm sure the violence had the blessings of India's political leaders. Therefore there is an urgent need to investigate its Prime Minister Manhoman Singh and Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi.”

“Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi should also be investigated as some eyewitnesses' account has shown that the mass killings happened after he duped the Tamils to come out from their hiding, assuring them that the Sri Lankan army would not shoot them,” alleged Ramasamy.

Kulasegaran, meanwhile, urged the UN and the international community not to ignore the killings committed by Sri Lanka.

“The International Criminal Court should investigate the massacre and prosecute those who were involved in the killings. Please do not sweep this under the carpet.”

He also expressed his disappoinment over the Malaysian government for ignoring the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan army.

“The Malaysian government gives all the support for the Palestinian cause but the same is not reflected in the Sri Lanka issue,” said Kulasegaran.