Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India remain suspended in limbo – A time to return

The recent arrests of returning refugees under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) voluntary repatriation by state agencies in Sri Lanka on the ground that they fled the island in boats without a valid travel document has drawn the attention of the public to the plight and future of Sri Lankan (Tamil) Refugees the world over but especially those living in camps in the neighbour-ing state of Tamil Nadu in India.

- BY DR NIRMALA CHANDRAHASAN

UNHCR has also stopped their assistance to voluntary return as a response to this action by state authorities.

Minister Bimal Ratnayake in response to questions in parliament from Tamil MPs has stated that these arrests are not government policy and has welcomed the Tamil refugees returning to their homeland.

Though this statement is welcomed by the refugees and returnees alike, words must be followed up by deeds and should be followed up by concrete action to facilitate return and reintegration. It must be recognised that this population with its skills and knowledge gained from being educated and working productively in Tamil Nadu the state with India’s highest GDP, can contribute to Sri Lanka economic development when provided basic durable solutions to facilitate their return.

Displacement

The July / August 1983 riots / pogrom targeting the Tamil speaking citizens of the Country marked the beginning of the refugee outflow from Sri Lanka to neighbouring India and also to the rest of the word including the West. Most affluent and English educated Tamils moved to Australia, Canada, the USA and European countries including the UK, while the less affluent including government servants, farmers, fishers and trades people fled across the narrow Palk Straits in boats to India. 1983 also marked the escalation of a nonviolent struggle for the rights of the Tamil speaking people into the civil war between the Tamil militants and the Lankan armed forces. As the war progressed further waves of refugees fled to India.