5
6.
It was agreed that the Chairman would write to UNHCR to find out in what way voluntary agencies could best assist those whose applications for refugee certificates had been rejected.
SITUATION OF TAMILS IN SRI LANKA
A paper on the situation in Sri Lanka by Amnesty International and a note on Tamils for the BRC Executive Council were tabled for background information.
The Chairman said that he had appeared on television and been on radio and ha intervened in the House of Lords (3 June 1985, Hansard pp 535-6) with regard to the current influx of Tamil refugees.
Michael Harris (Ockenden Venture) had received information that 99% of recent arrivals, particularly young men, were in fear of their lives.
Phillip Rudge (ECRE) reported that the Swiss government had said it would not return any of its 2,500 Tamil asylum-seekers until the situation had improved. The Federal Republic of Germany recognized 95% of Tamil asylum-seekers, and had advised that Tamils wanting to return to Sri Lanka should be told they were at risk. The Netherlands government had sent a delegation to Sri Lanka and would be discussing its recommendations in two weeks time. The British government had taken a harder line on Tamil asylum-seekers than any other country.
Martin Barber (BRC) reported that he and UKIAS had met with the Home Office who had informed them of their intention to apply the policy of returning Tamils to Colombo. As a result of the present confusion in the Home Office's Immigration Department, one Tamil had been illegally returned to Sri Lanka before his application had been fully processed. Martin Barber asked the Committee to consider why the British government, having successfully limited the number of arrivals, was being the least generous in granting Tamils leave to remain, especially considering the numbers taken by Germany (20-30,000) and France (19,000). He believed sufficient pressure might force the government to reconsider. He asked the Committee to press the government to take strong diplomatic action to address the root causes of the exodus of Tamils from Sri Lanka. President Jaywardene was interested but did not have enough support from within his own party. His position would be helped if Western governments said they expected Sri Lanka to address solutions to the problem. As it was, the President had admitted he could not control the army and was therefore not in a position to give assurances on the protection of Tamils.
It was believed that only serious pressure would have any effect, for example a cut in aid, especially after Prime Minister Thatcher had supported President Jaywardene's anti-terrorist efforts when in Sri Lanka.
The Chairman agreed to visit the Foreign Office to urge them to exert diplomatic
pressure.
It was agreed that the Committee would indicate its concern to the BRC Executive Council who would be asked to pass this on to the Government.
7.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
7.1
Situation in Thailand
8.
A paper on the refugee situation in Thailand was tabled, UNHCR were asked to provide an update on the situation in Thailand for the next Asia Committee meeting.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
The date of the next meeting of the Asia Committee will be: Tuesday 17 September 1985.