Sri Lanka still volatile - Navi Pillay

9 November 2012 12:15 pm - 27 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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While expressing alarm at a new push by Australian immigration authorities to immediately reject a number of Sri Lankan asylum seekers UN’s Rights Chief Navi Pillay said that Sri Lanka was still volatile, despite the end of the civil war in 2009.

Pillay is in Bali for a democracy summit, also attended by Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Ms Pillay said she had heard numerous concerns that asylum seekers could languish indefinitely on Nauru and Manus Island under Labor's revived Pacific Solution and was especially worried over the plight of children.

''I am highly concerned that detention in regional offshore processing centres such as in Nauru could result in indefinite detention and other human rights violations,'' she said.

''All people, including migrants, have the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and this form of detention has been shown at times to violate this right.

''It could well end up as indefinite detention, and people in indefinite detention suffer significant mental health issues - and Australia should be well aware of this.''

The number of people arriving in recent months has already far exceeded the planned capacity for the two centres in the Pacific.
In a bid to toughen the deterrent, Labor plans to remove the Australian mainland from the migration zone.

The Immigration Department has sent home dozens of Sri Lankans - from Christmas and Cocos islands - deemed not to have a refugee claim.
But Ms Pillay said Sri Lanka was still volatile, despite the end of the civil war in 2009.

''Now that was a conflict area, matters have not stabilised as yet.

''All the reports reaching me are that people are concerned over controls being imposed over them,'' she said.

''So I can understand if they'd be leaving out of fear or for their personal security, and it really cries out for all the refugee protections, asylum seeker protections to be made particularly applicable to them.''

Ms Pillay visited Australia last year, meeting with Ms Gillard, and visiting detention centres in the country.
''They were all [in] very good condition, but not the detainees.

''These are, after all, not people who are criminals and so they were handling the detention badly; many attempts at self-harm, and I'm still receiving reports of self-harm, suicide attempts and protests at the off-shore processing facilities. And these are all highly worrying - and unfortunately it was a predictable outcome.''

Ms Pillay said that combating people smugglers was important to protect people's rights and praised regional talks.
''But I must stress that these should be underpinned by strong legal protections in line with the government's human rights obligations.'' (The Age)

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Comments - 27

DUWI Saturday, 10 November 2012 04:56 AM

We know that you would love to make Sri Lanka volatile. What a hypocrite.

Rohan Monday, 12 November 2012 01:49 PM

What happened to all the tamils? The tamil refugees were sent back in loads.

Desmond Lyle Monday, 12 November 2012 12:10 AM

Don't even bother with this idiot. She is a Tamil on the LTTE's payroll.

Lanka Lion - Sydney Sunday, 11 November 2012 12:38 PM

Australia has come to realize that they are economic migrants mostly from the majority Sinhalese community who are looking for a better life in the "Lucky Country"

Sam Silva Saturday, 10 November 2012 05:01 PM

Not sure where this woman is coming from ? Which 'cave' or 'planet' does she actually live in ? Always comes across as an ardent LTTE sympathiser & supporter ! She is nothing but a dead loss to the entire Tamil cause !

Trehan Munasinghe Saturday, 10 November 2012 04:20 PM

Lets also vote for separation of Tamil Nadu.... and whom ever wants to leave can go... disgruntle or for economic reasons never mind..
The real question is will the Tamil brothers and sisters ever be satisfied with their Sri Lankan identity... if YES then its time YOU stand up for your country....

richardson Saturday, 10 November 2012 03:33 PM

Anay chooty kella , oya apata against da?Ehenam bala genai

Api oyata love karanne neha

Kalu Sudda Saturday, 10 November 2012 02:56 PM

Boy who is talking

Kalu Sudda Saturday, 10 November 2012 02:55 PM

God do you have to put this ugly picture everytime she opens her stinking mouth. I just threw up all my vadde.

Calistus Jayatilleke Saturday, 10 November 2012 08:08 AM

Oh yes, we know that Blood is thicker than Water!

perera Saturday, 10 November 2012 06:44 AM

so are many other countries you simpleton

RamUK Saturday, 10 November 2012 06:37 AM

No I am not from welikada prison lol...

don Friday, 09 November 2012 01:32 PM

this woman must be in some kind of a fantasy world, these are economic migrants

kay Saturday, 10 November 2012 04:06 AM

you are a real shit head and a coward haven't got the courage to write under your own name. Go and take your medication.

Mike Samson Saturday, 10 November 2012 03:44 AM

Navi Pillay is now the mother superior of the L.T.T.E.

Lokka Saturday, 10 November 2012 03:28 AM

Navi Pillay is promoting illegal immigration.

GonAliya Saturday, 10 November 2012 03:15 AM

Dhi, Belli

Lobo Saturday, 10 November 2012 03:11 AM

Dinesh, it does seem like she has a fixation on Sri Lanka's issues whereas there are bigger and more serious issues elsewhere in the world. Also can you elaborate what problems the tamils are having now? Real ones please!!

Nodrog Saturday, 10 November 2012 02:58 AM

Are you stoned??

lal Saturday, 10 November 2012 02:51 AM

Pillai does what she is told to do by her paymasters in the West and racist diaspora - hound Sri Lanka. She is not allowed to critciise the West who create HR violations in Palestine, Iraq, Afganistan or the treatment of Australian aborogines. She probably has hangups of bowing to whites, unlike Mandela who always believed in equality and human dignity.

Navanindha Pillai Saturday, 10 November 2012 01:05 AM

LTTE money talks!

MR mamma Friday, 09 November 2012 04:47 PM

pls take our big boss to the international crimnal court

Dinesh Friday, 09 November 2012 03:56 PM

Ar u sure we dont have any problem???

RamUK Friday, 09 November 2012 02:22 PM

the answer is in the name Pillay...we can call all the tamils in the world as refugees BUT look out for next generation who rocks....

Nick Friday, 09 November 2012 02:04 PM

Pillay is having preoblem only about Sri Lanka. What about South Africa, Bahrain, Libiya, Burma etc.

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Sri Lanka still volatile - Navi Pillay

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