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Unless they returned to Sri Lanka “voluntarily,” the United Kingdom has planned to relocate Sri Lankan refugees seeking shelter from the British-controlled Chagos Islands to “a secure third nation.” The UK has informed the asylum seekers that they would be sent to another unnamed nation if they cannot be sent back to Sri Lanka. According to The Island, at least 120 Sri Lankans are reportedly living in a gated camp on Diego Garcia, an island in the Chagos Archipelago. Mauritius and the UK disagree over who has sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.
According to the United Nations, it belongs to Mauritius and should be returned to Mauritius. The UK should let Sri Lankans to move there, according to those who represent their interests.
Global Tamil Forum, an independent, worldwide advocacy group that supports Tamil speakers in Sri Lanka and other groups in Sri Lanka and upholds the values of democracy and non-violence, has said that it would not participate in the current dispute on the issue.
The Island wanted the GTF to comment on the contentious British decision to deny refuge in the UK. It questioned if the subject would be brought up to the United Nations Human Rights Council, which is situated in Geneva (UNHRC).
Suren Surendiran, the GTF’s spokeswoman, responded to this by saying, “Outside of Sri Lanka, the GTF typically avoids becoming engaged in situations that are country-specific due to its international nature and lack of focus on any one nation. The GTF primarily functions as a global advocacy group. There are several Tamil organisations that are nation-specific. Additionally, there are Tamil institutions and groups that advocate for favourable immigration laws in the UK and other nations, including law firms.”
According to The Island, the Chagos Islands were determined to belong to Mauritius by the United Nations Maritime Law Tribunal, the United Nations General Assembly, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Some of the individuals who had been “detained” in the contentious UK area left “voluntarily” for Sri Lanka. According to recent testimony before Parliament from UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Minister Jesse Norman, more than 60 Sri Lankans have willingly returned home.
Australia has now reaffirmed that it would not, under any circumstances, permit unlawful Sri Lankan immigration. Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, Commissioner of the Australian Border Force Michael Outram, and Commander of the Operation Sovereign Borders Joint Agency Task Force (JATF), Rear Admiral Justin Jones, all issued stern warnings that those who broke their laws would be dealt with, according to The Island.
