The escalation in the number of Sri Lankan Tamils attempting to enter other countries illegally is causing the government concern and giving rise to speculation that a large-scale human-smuggling racket is under way.
In recent weeks, some 500 Sri Lankans have attempted to illegally enter countries in Europe and Asia, as well as Australia and Canada.
Minister for Human Rights and Disaster Management, Mahinda Samarasinghe, told the Sunday Times that there was big money in people smuggling, and that Tamil civilians were seeking asylum overseas even though the war had ended.
On Thursday, a boat carrying 75 Sri Lankans was detained by the Indonesian Navy, after another boat carrying 225 Sri Lankans, including women and children, was apprehended in Indonesian waters the previous week. A third boat, carrying 36 Sri Lankans, was detected off the coast of Christmas Island, Australia, on Tuesday, while in Canada, 75 Sri Lankans have been arrested as illegal immigrants.
Meanwhile, a boat carrying 135 persons, including Sri Lankan, Pakistani and Afghan nationals, was recently detected off the coast of Turkey.
In a separate development, the Bangkok Police this week arrested 41 Sri Lankans for overstaying. Initially, the police had rounded up 53 persons, all Tamils of Sri Lankan origin, but released 12. The released persons had applied to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, for asylum and were awaiting placement in countries ready to accept them. The others were being held at the International Detention Centre until the Thai police complete investigations. The Sri Lankan Embassy in Bangkok is assisting in the investigations.
The 41 Sri Lankans are the latest in a series of arrests of Sri Lankan nationals in Thailand in recent months. The Thai authorities believe some Sri Lankans in Thailand are engaging in credit card fraud and other criminal activities.It is also believed that Thailand is fast becoming a “transhipment” point for Sri Lankans being smuggled aboard vessels bound for Australia or being smuggled into Western countries on false documents.Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Director General Ranjith Uyangoda told the Sunday Times that officials at the Sri Lanka embassy in Indonesia have still not had access to Sri Lankans being held by the authorities. “The Indonesian immigration officials are continuing their investigations,” he said. |
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