The Australian government is deporting hundreds Tamil asylum seekers back to Sri Lanka, claiming that they are 'economic migrants'. Australia is also increasing its collaboration with Sri Lankan intelligence and navy to prevent Tamil asylum seekers from leaving Sri Lanka. This forum will expose the truth about the ongoing state-sponsored persecution of Tamils and critics of the Rajapaksa regime. It will also critique Australian refugee policies which have condemned thousands of asylum seekers to imprisonment indefinitely on the mainland and in its offshore prison camps on Nauru and Manus Island. Speakers: Bruce Haigh (former Australian diplomat to Sri Lanka who has spoken out against Australia's complicity in the oppression of the Tamils); Siva Sivakumar (Communication Officer, Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations); Trevor Grant (a coordinator of the Boycott Sri Lanka Cricket Campaign & a member of RAC). 6:30pm. Multicultural Hub, 506 Elizabeth St, City. Hosted by the Refugee Action Collective.
Public meeting: Persecuted in Sri Lanka, Detained in Australia: The plight of Tamil refugees.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013 - 18:30