Port Blair, Aug 22: Taking up the issue of 65 Srilankan Tamil Nationals who accidentally hit ashore at Hut Bay Island following on their attempt to cross over to Australia due to technical snag in their vessel, Mr. Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament has requested for appropriate assistance and support on humanitarian ground, vide letters to the Prime Minister of India, Minister of State for Home and the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees. He has also sent copies of the letter to the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the Chief of DMK, Kalaignar Karunanidhi, for their intervention. There are 41 males, 14 Women and 10 children below 7 years of age in the group, and two of the ladies are pregnant.
Mr. Ray referring to his interaction with the said group of people, on the request of Tamilians settled in the Islands, mentioned about their apprehensions in case they are sent back to Srilanka. Mr. Ray said in the letter that as per his understanding the group of people took the risk to sail in a small boat to cover 3000 Nautical Miles to reach Australia with small kids and even pregnant lady in high seas.
This risky move of the group of people speaks loud about the problems and threat they are facing in Srilanka, Mr. Ray pointed. These people fear that they will be killed or burnt alive if they return back to Srilanka. Hence they are not willing to return back to Srilanka.
Their only request to the Govt of India is to arrange repair of the vessel in which they had come adrift and to allow them travel to Australia to spend their remaining part of the life peacefully, Mr. Ray pointed in his letter.
He has also pointed in the letter that he is not sure about the legalities or policy of the Govt and whether the Indian Govt. would be able to rehabilitate them or consider their request. Their request is very limited to get the small ship repaired in which they came ashore and allow them to sail further.
Giving humanitarian insight on the issue and considering their life threat in case they are handed over to Srilanka Govt, the Govt of India may take an appropriate action to fulfill their request, Mr. Ray urged.
