K Pragalath | July 18, 2011Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy is urging the Indonesian government not to send back Sri Lankan refugees and to treat them humanely.
PETALING JAYA: Penang Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy hopes that the Indonesian government will not sent back the 89 Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka who were detained in Indonesia.
The 89 Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka were detained by the Indonesian authorities in the waters of New Galan as the refugees were attempting to reach New Zealand.“While Indonesia has the right to protect its territorial integrity, it is hoped that the government would exercise humanitarian care in dealing with these refugees,” Ramasamy said today.
War in Sri Lanka pitted the Sri Lankan Army against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for close to three decades. The war ended two years ago with LTTE’s defeat. However, much post-war reconciliation work have not taken place.
A visit by Malaysian opposition MPs to the island also indicated that reconciliation has not taken place.
“There is fear in the humanitarian circles principaly from the Tamil Diaspora that they might be possibly sent back to Sri Lanka by the Indonesian government.
“Once they are sent back, it obvious that these refugees would be subject to interrogation, torture and possible death.
“Thousands of Tamils are still languishing in camps under very depressing social, economic and health conditions (in Sri Lanka),” said Ramasamy .
The 89 detainees have pleaded that they be placed in any country but Sri Lanka.
Tamil humanitarian bodies dealing with the Tamil refugees’ problem are also urging Indonesia not to send back the 89 refugees to Sri Lanka.
“They are advising the government to place the refugees in a special place where they will have access to food, water and medical care,” said Ramasamy who is also Batu Kawan MP.
In a related development, staff from Ramasamy’s office sent a memorandum to the Indonesian consular office in Penang asking them to give the Tamil refugees humanitarian treatment.
