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Deported Sri Lankan Asylum Seekers Speak of Mistreatment by Australian Authorities

Categories: South Asia, Australia, Sri Lanka, Governance, Human Rights, Humanitarian Response, International Relations, Law, Politics

Thirty seven Sinhalese and four Tamil asylum seekers from Sri Lanka sailed in a boat towards Australia and were intercepted west of the Cocos Island [1] late last month by Australian authorities. They were returned to Sri Lanka [2], their point of origin, and they appeared in a court in the country's southwest yesterday.

Journalist Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai reports [3] that the Sri Lankan deportees claimed that they were mistreated. He also tweeted [4] (@DushiYanthini) photos and news from the ground:

Citizen journalism site Groundviews also commented: