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Tamil Blogosphere: Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India
22 Jun 2007 08:04:48 GMT
Blogged by: Global Voices
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GlobalVoices Back in Nov 2006, Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie was in India and had showered praised on India for giving shelter to displaced people from a number of countries. She also said that India’s action of providing shelter to refugees from various countries, though it had needy people of its own was commendable.

At that time Badri Seshadri, Chennai, India wrote a post about the plight of refugees and in particular about the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees. Badri says,

இந்தியா தன்னாட்டு மக்கள் நலனுக்கே நிறைய செய்யவேண்டிய நிலையிலும்கூட, வெளிநாட்டு அகதிகளை அரவணைத்து அவர்களுக்கு வேண்டிய அளவு செய்துள்ளதாக ஜோலீ கூறியுள்ளார்…

Refugees coming to India could be classified into four major groups. First Tibetians escaping from the Chines. India still supports these few tens of thousands. Second group came from Burma/Myanmar when military rule was imposed there. Their number would be around 50 thousand. Third group came from Bangladesh in 1970 in a few hundred thousands. India faced a lot of problems at that time. Fourth major group of refugees came from Sri Lanka.

Even though, India has helped these refugees in the beginning, the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in Tamil Nadu living under harrowing circumstances. They are being shut down in separate camps. Tamil Nadu state government’s decision has been to somehow send these refugees back where they came from, against their will.

Badri continues that India did not sign the UNHCR convention treaty in 1951. And hasn’t signed till now. Burmese, Afghan, Bangladeshi, Tibetian refugees are not happy in India. But, the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are worse off than the others. To people who risk life crossing the Palk Strait, all India gives them is quite akin to a prison sentence.

Badri has a set of guidelines.

1. அவர்கள் இந்தியா வந்த உடனேயே, அரசியல் காரணங்களுக்கான அகதி என்பதை உறுதி செய்துகொண்டு (பர்மா, இலங்கை அகதிகள் இன்றைய நிலையில் அரசியல் அகதிகள்தாம்!) அவர்கள் கண்ணியத்துடன் உயிர்வாழ சுகாதாரமான, வசதியான தாற்காலிக இடம் கொடுக்கப்பட வேண்டும்…

1. Refugees, as soon as they land should be confirmed as political refugees. Decent temporary accommodation should be provided for them along with Monetary help for at least six months. Then, proper help should be given to the refugees to live life on their own.

2. Political refugees admitted to India should be given some sort of diplomatic papers and should be given permission to live and work anywhere in India.

3. Where-ever the refugees elect to stay, ration cards should be given to them to procure groceries at a fair-price.

4. The children of refugees should be allowed to study in India.

5. Government hospitals should treat refugees like any other Indian, without demanding any payments

6. Refugees should be allowed to buy any real-estate. And when they sell the property, they should be allowed to convert the money to other foreign currency.

7. Refugees should be allowed to travel to other countries.

8. Most importantly, the refugees should not be labeled as ‘usual suspects’ and put in prison and investigated. Such heinous activities should be prohibited.

9. India should sign the 1951 UNHCR convention treaty.

India could invite Angelina Jolie then, and celebrate says Badri Seshadri from Chennai, India.

In December 2006, Thiru from Belgium, Varavanaiyan Senthil from Dindugal and Azhiyuran from Thirunelveli visited a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camp in Thalaiyuthu, Thirunelveli, India.

Here are some excerpts from Thiru’s post.

thalaiyuthu_camp.jpg



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