Sri Lankans no longer need refugee status - UNHCR

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Sri Lankans no longer need refugee status - UNHCR


Tuesday, 06 July 2010
UNHCR said Monday that since the human right and security situation in Sri Lanka has improved since the end of the three decade old war Sri Lankans originating from the north of the country are no longer in need of international protection under broader refugee criteria or complementary forms of protection solely on the basis of risk of indiscriminate harm.
The UN Refugee Agency releasing its latest report Monday, titled 'Eligibility Guidelines for Assessing the International Protection Needs of Asylum-Seekers from Sri Lanka', further says that human rights and security situation in Sri Lanka has improved.'In light of the improved human rights and security situation in Sri Lanka, there is no longer a need for group-based protection mechanisms or for a presumption of eligibility for Sri Lankans of Tamil ethnicity originating from the north of the country', UNHCR report states.The end of the armed conflict and the significantly improved security conditions throughout the country have resulted in a reduction in the number of Sri Lankans seeking international protection in industrialized countries. During the period from January to June 2010, 2,947 asylum applications have been registered – compared to 4,573 applications registered during the same period in 2009 – representing a 35 percent decrease, the report further states.UNHCR considers that the current situation in Sri Lanka, although significantly improved in the last twelve months, does not yet warrant cessation of refugee status on the basis of Article 1C(5) of the 1951 Convention… Claims by persons suspected of having links with the LTTE may, however, give rise to the need to examine possible exclusion from refugee status, the report states.The security situation in Sri Lanka had significantly stabilized, paving the way for a lasting solution for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the country’s north and east, the report further states noting the significant progress by the government in resettling IDPs.'Many of the initial restrictions on the freedom of movement of IDPshave been lifted, and by mid-June 2010, approximately 246,000 personshad left the displacement camps to return to their places of origin orlive with host families, relatives and friends. More returns areexpected to take place within the coming weeks and months', UNHCRnotes, and cites the reasons for delays among other factors, total orpartial destruction of their homes, ongoing de-mining operations, landdisputes and arbitrary seizure of land belonging to Muslims by theLTTE in the north and east.UNHCR also states that the relaxation of emergency legislation 'markeda shift towards a peacetime agenda'. Restrictions on the freedom ofmovement have also been eased as a consequence of the improvement inthe security situation, it says.Noting existing security measures, including military/policecheckpoints, UNHCR notes that this is reportedly to prevent there-establishment of the LTTE by cadres still at large.The report also states that Sri Lanka has experienced 'significantpolitical developments' during the first half of 2010. It adds, 'someareas of the north such as Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts thathad previously been under the control of the LTTE for decades are nowgoverned by the central authorities.' UNHCR also notes theestablishment of 'a truth and reconciliation commission mandated toexamine the “lessons to be learnt from events” between February 2002and May 2009'.Meanwhile, the Australian government is expected to take a tougherapproach to border protection when it announces the policy on asylumseekers this week. Australian Cabinet is due to discuss the future ofSri Lankan asylum seekers.President Media