"Ehalf of the asylum seekers that!ere recently intercepted "y the Australian avy to Sri Lanka's avy% "the asylum seekers remain indefinitely held at sea# setting a dangerous precedent#" said Amnesty $nternational. "The -overnment has continually failed to provide even "asic ans!ers to the 0uestions a"out the missing asylum seekers!herea"outs and their safety% "$t s
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Original Title
Australia Handover of Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers a Dangerous Precedent
"Ehalf of the asylum seekers that!ere recently intercepted "y the Australian avy to Sri Lanka's avy% "the asylum seekers remain indefinitely held at sea# setting a dangerous precedent#" said Amnesty $nternational. "The -overnment has continually failed to provide even "asic ans!ers to the 0uestions a"out the missing asylum seekers!herea"outs and their safety% "$t s
"Ehalf of the asylum seekers that!ere recently intercepted "y the Australian avy to Sri Lanka's avy% "the asylum seekers remain indefinitely held at sea# setting a dangerous precedent#" said Amnesty $nternational. "The -overnment has continually failed to provide even "asic ans!ers to the 0uestions a"out the missing asylum seekers!herea"outs and their safety% "$t s
The proposed handover of 153 asylum seekers to Sri Lanka's avy !ould put Australia in "latant "reach of international la! and set a dangerous precedent# said Amnesty $nternational% A hearing at the High &ourt in 'el"ourne on Tuesday has put the transfer in dou"t# after an application !as "rought on "ehalf of the asylum seekers that !ere recently intercepted "y the Australian avy on their !ay from $ndia% (n Sunday# Australia returned )1 aslyum seekers# that had tried to reach the country# to Sri Lanka's avy% The decision that the !hole High &ourt !ill hear the challenge reflects the gravity of the Australian government*s deeply concerning proposal to return asylum seekers to a country !here their lives may "e at serious risk#+ said Amnesty $nternational Australia*s ,efugee Spokesperson -raeme 'c-regor% The -overnment*s temporary commitment they !ill not transfer the asylum seekers to Sri Lanka !ithout giving ./ hours notice is a small step in the right direction# "ut the asylum seekers remain indefinitely held at sea# setting a dangerous precedent% Sri Lankan asylum seekers on the first boat sent back by Australia queue to enter the magistrate's court in the southern port district of Galle on July 8, !"#$ Throughout this process# the -overnment has continually failed to provide even "asic ans!ers to the 0uestions a"out the asylum seekers* !herea"outs and their safety% $t*s taken a High &ourt challenge for the -overnment to even confirm the "oat e1ists% There still remain many unans!ered 0uestions a"out the missing asylum seekers* !herea"outs% Amnesty $nternational continues to have deep concerns a"out the shroud of secrecy imposed "y the -overnment all under the guise of "order security%+ Sri Lankans screened out at sea 2arlier this !eek# in an unprecedented move# the -overnment confirmed it had su"3ected )1 Sri Lankan asylum seekers to !hat it calls an 4enhanced screening process* via video link% This denied asylum seekers a fair and ade0uate chance for their refugee claims to "e processed% Asking asylum seekers only four 0uestions each "efore handing them "ack to Sri Lankan authorities runs an e1tremely high risk of returning genuine refugees to torture# persecution or death#+ said 'c-regor% $f the Australian government !ants to address the loss of asylum seekers* lives# it should not "e returning them to a country !here their lives may "e in grave danger% Australia stands alone in failing to recognise the ongoing human rights violations taking place in Sri Lanka#+ -raeme 'c-regor added% All asylum seekers arriving "y "oat should "e processed in Australia under a prompt# rigorous and fair ,efugee Status 5etermination system% Amnesty $nternational calls on the -overnment to immediately cease any policy to turn "ack asylum seeker "oats% Sri Lanka*s ongoing human rights a"uses Human rights organisations including Amnesty $nternational and the Human ,ights La! &entre have long documented the human rights a"uses !idely committed "y the Sri Lankan authorities against those that pu"licly oppose it% 5espite the end of the /667 conflict# the Sri Lankan -overnment has systematically and violently cracked do!n on its critics% Sri Lankan asylum seekers have faced torture upon return to Sri Lanka from countries such as the 89% Torture has "een reported in reha"ilitation camps# "y police and military personnel in the conte1t of counter insurgency against the Li"eration Tigers of Tamil 2elam :LTT2; and also in the conte1t of civil policing% All ethnic groups in Sri Lanka continue to face risks of torture in police custody# including se1ual violence# !here it is pervasive% $n several kno!n cases# Tamils !ho have "een returned to Sri Lanka have faced ar"itrary arrest and detention%
The decision that the !hole High
&ourt !ill hear the challenge reflects the gravity of the Australian government*s deeply concerning proposal to return asylum seekers to a country !here their lives may "e at serious risk% % Graeme McGregor, Amnesty International Australias Refugee Spokesperson