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28 asylum-seekers decide to return home
View(s):Twenty-eight Sri Lankan men have voluntarily returned home, having decided not to pursue asylum in Australia. The returnees, who were detained in Nauru, Christmas Island and mainland Australia, boarded a chartered flight from Christmas Island to Colombo yesterday.
“These individuals have chosen not to pursue asylum claims and therefore are no longer seeking to engage Australias protection obligations,” said Australias Minister for Immigration and Citizenship Chris Bowen.
Two more transfers of boat arrivals to Nauru were completed this week and more will follow in the coming days and weeks, the Australian High Commission quoted Mr. Bowen as saying.
“People who pay smugglers to risk their lives on a dangerous sea journey are throwing their money away – there is no visa awaiting them, no speedy outcome, no special treatment,” Mr. Bowen said. “Regular transfers to Nauru and more Sri Lankans returning home is further proof that people smugglers only sell lies and make false promises about what awaits people in Australia.
“The Australian Government is determined to break the people-smuggling trade and stop people getting on those dangerous boats,” he said.
Meanwhile, 15 Sri Lankans who were arrested and detained in India after the Kollam Police in Kerala busted a human trafficking racket on June 3, were to be deported yesterday.
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