Tamils protest at Swiss asylum policy

3 April 2011 08:52 am - 9 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Hundreds of people have protested in the Swiss capital Bern against the potential repatriation of asylum seekers to Sri Lanka. Protestors called for a rethink of a decision in force since March 1, saying the human rights situation in Sri Lanka remained precarious.

At the start of the year, the Federal Migration Office said the situation in the country had improved and decided that most asylum seekers could return to the north and east of the country following the end of civil war.

But the Swiss Council of Eelam Tamils who organized Saturday’s demonstration fear Tamils will be arrested and tortured on their return to the country.

They said refugees should only be sent back if the Sri Lankan government authorizes an international inquiry into alleged war crimes and ends the emergency rule. The International Committee of the Red Cross should also be given access to all political prisoners, they said.

The Federal Migration Office said there were 2,100 Sri Lankans whose asylum applications were pending in Switzerland by the end of last year. Sri Lankans are one of the biggest migrant groups in Switzerland. There were 27,721 people of Sri Lankan origin in the country at the end of 2008. Since 1973 more than 11,000 Sri Lankans have acquired Swiss citizenship. (swissinfo.ch and agencies)

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Comments - 9

Konde bendapu china Sunday, 03 April 2011 10:15 AM

ince 1973 more than 11,000 Sri Lankans have acquired Swiss citizenship/All of them economic asylum seekers

Vijayabahu Sunday, 03 April 2011 10:24 AM

Swiss Gov, please kept terrorists there.. dont deport them to SL... Sri Lanka people enjoy much peace here.. we dont want garbage back..

Fernandez Sunday, 03 April 2011 11:00 AM

Please keep them in Swis or send them to a country who needs them like Canada, UK or Norway. Thank you

local boy Sunday, 03 April 2011 12:21 PM

please do not deport them here.

Appuhamy Sunday, 03 April 2011 08:21 PM

We must organize protests outside the Swiss Embassy in Colombo that the Swiss Government should not repatriate these "inhuman terrorists" back to Sri Lanka.

DSR-Neckar Monday, 04 April 2011 12:30 AM

We do not need any trouble making gansters. They came to you for a better life. Let them to be happy!

Lalindra Monday, 04 April 2011 03:46 AM

Appuhamy - swiss embassy ppl packed thire baggages and left SL long time ago

Jayantha G Monday, 04 April 2011 04:02 AM

Well said and who is worried more is that former F M M boss who is asking asylum there.

Srith Monday, 04 April 2011 09:43 AM

This figure not match with actual, there are 45,000 Tamils in Switzerland (Nationality: Swiss Tamils) on 2005. Now more than this.

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Tamils protest at Swiss asylum policy

Comments - 9

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