ATC in the media – Counteraction to SL gov smear campaign

ATC in the media – Counteraction to SL gov smear campaign
The Age – Most Tamils real refugees, say experts
THE majority of Tamil asylum seekers are genuine refugees and claims they are radicals and terrorist sympathisers are a fiction being pushed by the Sri Lankan government, experts say.
The response comes after claims were aired that as many as half of the more than 1000 Tamil asylum seekers who have arrived in Australia since 2008 are either former Tamil Tigers or their supporters.
Terrorism expert at the Australian National University, Clive Williams, said most Tamils would, as a necessity, have contact with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), given the group ruled a large swath of northern Sri Lanka, but that did not make them potential terrorists.
 Read more...

Sri Lankan Government puppet mounts scare campaign

The Australian Tamil Congress urges the Australian media to rely on verifiable information from credible sources when dealing with sensitive issues.
The article titled "Half of Sri Lankan arrivals have ties to Tigers" which appeared in The Australian on 14 July 2010 relies heavily on Sergei DeSilva-Ranasinghe, a self proclaimed defence analyst whom investigation reveals is only a Masters Student.
His inflammatory claims are not sourced but he has the gall to claim that credible and researched positions such as that of the UNHCR are "ridiculous". His posturing clearly outlines his ulterior motive of a smear campaign targeting the Tamil people. His reference to Sri Lankan Government claims that asylum seekers have Tiger connections cannot be relied upon. The Sri Lankan government, now facing a potential war crimes investigation has systemically sought to label Tamils as Tigers or potential terrorists in order to justify their collective punishment of a persecuted minority.
A similar campaign against Tamil asylum seekers in Canada was waged by the now discredited academic, Rohan Gunaratne. The Canadian media reported last week these claims had been proven to be fabricated -
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/proof+migrants+were+Tamil+Tigers/3259322/story.html.
Clearly this agenda of labelling is being spread to Australia.
"Why would one publish an article from a self anointed defence analyst with obvious vested interests in spreading rumour and mistruths about the Tamils?" asks Dr Sam Pari, spokesperson for the Australian Tamil Congress.
Media contact:
Dr Sam Pari – 0433 428 967
 Read more...

Australian Tamil youth runs for Federal Senate

  The Australian - Tamil refugee, Brami Jegan, seeks Senate seat

 

Senate Greens candidate Brami Jegan, a former banker and journalist, at
Sydney's Darling Harbour. Picture: Amos Aikman *Source:* The Australian

"I know, my background is a bit different," the newly anointed Greens Senate
candidate says with a laugh. "But I've got nothing to hide. I'm here because
I want to contribute to our society." Read more...

ABC Unleashed – Asylum seekers set sail in a sea of silence

"Boat people’ not just an Immigration issue for Australia but also one
of Foreign Policy writes ATC spoeksperson, Dr Sam Pari

ABC Unleashed – Asylum seekers set sail in a sea of silence
http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2946853.htm Read more...

ATC in the media

SMH - Gillard's Timor solution: reaction
http://www.smh.com.au/national/gillards-timor-solution-reaction-20100706-zyhi.html

The Age - Sri Lanka has improved but people still 'vulnerable'
http://www.theage.com.au/national/sri-lanka-has-improved-but-people-still-vulnerable-20100706-zz1v.html

SMH - Mixed reaction over offshore processing
http://www.smh.com.au/national/mixed-reaction-over-offshore-processing-20100706-zz4t.html Read more...
 

Taken from the TamilJustice blog

Australian Tamil Congress cannot be held liable for any Tamil Justice posts. Opinions appearing on Tamil Justice are only those of the authors and do not reflect the position of Australian Tamil Congress. Tamil Justice is an independent blog run by individuals that provides daily coverage of domestic and international events relating to Tamil issues. The Australian Tamil Congress has chosen to publish posts from Tamil Justice purely as a resource to keep our members updated on current news events.
Tamil Justice
  • Moving ‘problem’ refugees to Curtin… deja vu anyone?
    ABC News – Immigration ‘trying to deceive Australia’ over Curtin move An advocate for asylum seekers says the Immigration Department is talking “rubbish”, after it claimed Afghans who broke out of the Darwin detention centre were moved to remote Western Australia for their own good. More than 80 men were transferred to WA’s Curtin detention [...]
  • Amnesty details torture in SL
    MEDIA RELEASE 3 September 2010 Sri Lankan asylum seekers tortured after being forcibly returned from Australia Amnesty International is today calling on the Sri Lankan government to ensure the safety of three men who have been tortured and jailed following their forced return from Australia in 2009. Two of the men, Sumith Mendis and Lasantha [...]
  • Coalition will still push for tougher laws
    The Australian (01/09) - TONY Abbott has vowed to press ahead with tougher border protection promise The Coalition will continue with its policy despite a threat from the Greens to block the reintroduction of temporary protection visas As Labor and the Greens announced a new alliance to ensure stability in government, Greens senator Sarah Hanson Young [...]
  • Aust lawyer rewarded for helping others
    SMH (01/09) – Lawyer hailed for pro bono work A lawyer who defended David Hicks against the US military and who regularly works pro bono for refugees, asylum seekers and native title groups has been recognised for helping the disadvantaged. Adelaide lawyer Stephen Kenny has won the Law Society of South Australia’s justice award for [...]
  • Tamils in Europe continue their campaign