Last minute reprieve for Lankan deportees

1 June 2012 04:03 am - 34 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Scores of Sri Lankans, due to have been deported from the UK on a government charter flight on Thursday afternoon, have had their removal orders overturned by high court judges. About 40 failed asylum-seekers - most of whom are thought to be Tamils - were granted dramatic last-minute stays.

Immigration lawyers ascribe the judges' apparent change of heart to serious concerns over Sri Lanka's dismal human rights record and the risk that those forcibly returned face arbitrary arrest and torture. The judgements affected around half of the estimated 70 to 80 Tamils due to have been sent back to Sri Lanka on flight PVT030 from Stansted.

Two senior barristers with the London-based Renaissance Chambers, which specialises in human rights and immigration law, say the judgements are very unusual. Nishan Paramjorthy and Shivani Jegarajah say they represent a judicial shot across the bows of the British government.

"Judicial attitudes have changed," said Mr Paramjorthy. "Previously hard-line judges are granting stays, mostly on grounds of risk upon return."

Channel 4 News has obtained a copy of one judgement, by the Honourable Mr Justice Eady, which cites as the reason for his granting a stay of removal: "The recent Human Rights Watch report, dated 29.05.2012 suggests that there may be new evidence relevant to the risk of ill treatment."

We are unable to publish the document because the proceedings are ongoing and live.

The High Court judge orders "that the secretary of state be restrained from removing the applicant from this jurisdiction." Today's flight was the fifth British government charter flight to Sri Lanka since June last year. The flights are shrouded in secrecy and the UK Border Agency has a policy of not commenting on them.( Channel 4)

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Comments - 34

mahesh Friday, 01 June 2012 09:39 AM

Paradise you gota be kidin me. I left SL after LTTE was defeated. LTTE terrorism we can fight but state terrorism very hard to fight just like in Syria now.

Wara Friday, 01 June 2012 06:12 AM

Thanks. And if you want, we have some more.

ponseka Saturday, 02 June 2012 07:47 PM

sharminda
if you were granted any UK visa
I have no doubt you would be the first person wipe the English men's bums

wasantha Friday, 01 June 2012 09:56 AM

pls keep them we dont need them

hardashaksiya Friday, 01 June 2012 08:11 PM

people commenting as if they want to feed these people when they come back to sri lanka. getting PR in uk uk doesn't mean they can pick money form trees.. they have to work hard and earn..as far as i think they are better than the people who cheating and robbing others for living wherever they are in uk or sri lanka..

ajith Friday, 01 June 2012 10:19 AM

Whether you come or not we don't care as you are ungrateful people to mother lanka...

Lohan Friday, 01 June 2012 10:29 AM

No wires crossed. Thats a fact. C4 gets paid for putting this on their news from the LTTE supporters and that is a fact too. Let the terrorists stay in UK and use the tax payers money.

kumaraya Friday, 01 June 2012 10:28 AM

Again, we see the lack of clear direction by the stupid and arrogant Brits! Some are sent back and others are granted a stay!! IDIOTS

Ranil Friday, 01 June 2012 10:32 AM

They are not economic refugees but they are LTTE supporters now hounding on hand-outs. Some are into robbery and crime. Its best they are in UK. SL doesnt want any of these trouble makers.

gunawardena Friday, 01 June 2012 06:46 AM

Verry good keep them there, as long as they dont come back who cares.

Shamindra Friday, 01 June 2012 10:58 PM

Stupid Brits - Please keep them. We can send you some more to house, feed & medicate. They can even camp in the Court House that released them. Very good, UK - Good Luck ! We will send you some more trouble makers. What a silly country UK is with their stupid Immigration HR Laws ! Now we can all go over & stay there FREE !!!! But first let us send over the rubbishy trouble-makers & LTTE supporters - they can go over and wash British Ministers' ****sides, which will please them no doubt !

Bradby Friday, 01 June 2012 10:35 AM

You sound a terrorist supporter to me. I have visited Sri Lanka several times before and after the war. The LTTE were a brutal regime that killed innocent as well as high profiled politicians for their gain. You are making up state terrorism and may be you are also one of those illegal migrants scrounging on our taxes.

jacoob Friday, 01 June 2012 10:39 AM

Aney Kumaraye,

The group with Sinhala majority deported and the group with tamil majority allowed to stay.. would it not sound logical my dear friend ..

Tanya Friday, 01 June 2012 10:52 AM

Depends who is supporting whom. Some refugees may not have the same support from solicitors as others. Some can spend a bit and get their case to court. So money matters.

BADA-UDA-GEMMBA Friday, 01 June 2012 11:06 AM

Are you "Punchi-putha" or you are really "CHINNA PODIYAN"???????/

jacoob Sunday, 03 June 2012 05:44 AM

The likes of Merwyns and co also suit for **** side jobs , do noyt you think .. please be fair with them and add them also

Anton Weerasinghe Friday, 01 June 2012 07:21 AM

Today anybody can fool the British system, because the British have taken human rights for granted.

guru Friday, 01 June 2012 07:25 AM

if these guys are economic refugees, what are the Sinhalese doing in UK, especially since the elimination of terrorism in SL.
They can all return to Paradise and live the Miracle of Asia

raj Saturday, 02 June 2012 04:18 AM

So you brand every Tamil as an LTTE. and then how about the real LTTEers in the government? Karuna, KP, Pilliyan? they given luxury, maybe the 40,000 whom you call ex LTTE should also be invited here and given life of luxury. That's whats happening to real ex LTTE.

keerthi Friday, 01 June 2012 07:42 AM

Please dont send them here!!

Nodrog Sunday, 03 June 2012 06:57 AM

An important factor many forget is that many tamils fled the country to avoid prosecution from the LTTE. BUT they put the blame on the GoSL to get sympathy and refugee status.

Gayan Friday, 01 June 2012 04:38 AM

UK Govt tasting its own medicine. They are in forefront on false proparganda against SL, now coz of the proparganda they are stuck with these illigal economic immigrants which they want to get rid of in a hurry.

Nodrog Friday, 01 June 2012 12:49 PM

Mahesh, if you want to qualify for refugee status somewhere, do so because we certainly don't need the likes of you here. But please don't spread false rumours and talk about things you don't know.

Shandy Friday, 01 June 2012 08:15 AM

Exactly Guru, both Sinhalese and Tamils are economic refugees.

We say Friday, 01 June 2012 04:53 AM

THANK YOU.Keep them please as there are no terrorists here.

Asoka Friday, 01 June 2012 05:00 AM

Birmingamham Blacks also deserve the same judgement. Too much racism in this city. Now, UK will learning their own law . Why not Tony Blair brings to International Criminal Court , genocide of Iraq civilians and Afghanistan civilians? Is he gentleman killer? Where is the judgement? Where is the law?

Lilith de silva Friday, 01 June 2012 05:09 AM

There are over 40,000 illegal Sri Lankan Tamils
Living in UK . All these guys are living from the
Dole money . No propper paper work so they legally cannot work . This is because thanks to Channnel 4
Properganda UK govt has to think twice before
Sending one by one.
SL must thank channel 4 other wise 40,000 ex LTTE
Supporters will be at your back garden loitering.

Hasthi Friday, 01 June 2012 08:50 AM

Nadu kara Uhumananta Bohoma Pin. Before long you wil see them again and again for other matters. Shall we say... 'many happy returns'.

SM Friday, 01 June 2012 02:03 PM

Please keep them all there! If you would like to have more please let us know. Thanks!

MK Friday, 01 June 2012 05:11 AM

They dont want to come here. We dont need them. please keep them!

Simply Better Friday, 01 June 2012 05:15 AM

It's time that they feel the heat of how they treated SL President during his UK tour. I strongly believe that they should not come to Sri Lanka, they are not Sri Lankans but Britsh. They should be given British citizenship & part of UK. British came to SL & killed our leaders, innocent people & took all our treasures. They are the people who committed human rights all over the world & now they are trying to finger the others. Shame on you.

Kondebandapucheena Friday, 01 June 2012 05:27 AM

Keep them there and if you want we can send many more who try to get out this beautiful island by boats,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

MOHAMED ASFAR Friday, 01 June 2012 05:29 AM

Gayan, you are 100 % correct. let them eat the rot.

Punchi Putha Friday, 01 June 2012 05:35 AM

You have your wires crossed buddy, get real

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Last minute reprieve for Lankan deportees

Comments - 34

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