Sydney: The Australian government has refused to comment on reports that claim over 150 Tamil asylum seekers were intercepted by its navy and handed over to Sri Lankan officials.
The asylum seekers have been incommunicado since Saturday morning and it’s alleged that the Sri Lankan navy have them in custody.
A spokesperson from Australia’s immigration ministry said the government will not comment on reports of “on-water activities in relation to Operation Sovereign Borders.”
But, according to the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper, human rights activists in Australia have been desperately trying to reach the asylum seekers and have expressed outrage over the fact “the plight” of the asylum seekers “remains in a shroud of secrecy”. Another report claimed a group of lawyers had identified four passengers on the first boat spent two weeks from India.
"These people appear to be unable to access basic information about their rights and we don’t know where they are. They can’t get in contact with anyone and critical questions about their fate continue to be raised and remain unanswered,” SMH quoted human rights lawyer David Manne, as saying.
The report also quoted Director of the Human Rights Legal centre Daniel Webb.
“There are serious questions about whether our government is complying with domestic and international laws. The answers to those questions depend on the facts but our government won’t give us any” Mr Webb said.
