Aussie MP commends Sri Lanka Navy

Intercepting boats of asylum seekers :

http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/10/21/sec01.asp

by Manjula FERNANDO

Australian parliamentarian Don Randall has commended the role played by the Sri Lanka Navy to intercept boats carrying prospective illegal immigrants to Australia. Following a recent trip to Sri Lanka, he has written in his personal blog, “The Sri Lankan Navy is doing an outstanding job of returning these boats to where they depart from and we should expect similar assistance from Indonesia,” echoing what he said in a statement to Parliament.

He has also written that he was astounded to hear that the Sri Lankan migrants were in fact not fleeing persecution or threat of violence but ‘were keen to attain higher paying jobs’ in his ‘lucky country’.

“I spoke to dozens of attempted asylum seekers who spoke very frankly with me about their circumstances and reasons for travelling to Australia,” he wrote adding that following those one-on-one meetings he was left in no doubt that those attempting to make the dangerous journey to Australia were not genuine asylum seekers but in fact economic refugees.

Randall, Member for Canning, has blamed the state’s current weak migration policies for the continued flow of boat people to his country.

“I admire and love Sri Lanka and the beauty of both the country and the people that make it such a special place. I also understand why Sri Lankans would try and take advantage of our current weak migration policies and forge a better life for themselves and their families in Australia”.

But he had emphasised that ‘Australia’s asylum seeker program is designed to provide refuge for the most vulnerable, the most persecuted, the most alienated and defenceless refugees across the world.’

Randall, Member for Canning, has blamed the state’s current weak migration policies for the continued flow of boat people to his country. “I admire and love Sri Lanka and the beauty of both the country and the people that make it such a special place. I also understand why Sri Lankans would try and take advantage of our current weak migration policies and forge a better life for themselves and their families in Australia”.

But he had emphasised that ‘Australia’s asylum seeker program is designed to provide refuge for the most vulnerable, the most persecuted, the most alienated and defenceless refugees across the world.’ He has criticised the ‘broken system’ that offers limited placements for those arriving after paying several thousands of dollars to people smugglers but denies assistance to those ‘desperately’ in need.

According to him last weekend alone, there had been 500 arrivals of people by boat. This Monday, four boats had arrived carrying over 300 people. Since announcing the reopening of Nauru processing centre, just two months ago, 70 boats have arrived carrying over 4,600 people. He said that since Labour won the 2007 election, there had been 27,192 arrivals. The Australian MP has called on the Government to ‘implement the full suite of policies that were so effective under the Howard government’ to curb illegal migration to Australia.