BACKGROUND
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Tamil Refugees: Visa Regime
1. Increasing number of Sri Lankan Tamils have been travelling to
the UK and seeking refugee status here. Although some cases were
genuine it was clear
that the great majority could be returned to Sri Lanka safely. The Home Secretary therefore announced on 20 May that only Tamils who risked severe hardship if they returned to Sri Lanka would be given exceptional leave to remain here. All others
would be returned to Sri Lanka.
2. However, since the statement by the Home Secretary the number of Sri Lankan Tamils arriving here continued to rise steeply: by more
than 600 It was
therefore decided to introduce
introduce a visa requirement for Sri Lankan citizens coming to the UK. This came into effect on
30 May.
3. The general attitude of UNHCR to these announcements has been
described as one of resigned acceptance. Mr Hartling raised the subject with Mr McDowall (Home Office) in the margins of the UNHCR
meeting on asylum seekers in Geneva on 31 May. He said he
understood the reasons behind HMG's decision to return Tamils to Sri
Lanka and to introduce a visa regime but expressed concern about the safety of those returned and asked whether the High Commission in Colombo would monitor returnees. He added that if the press raised this during his visit to London he would feel obliged to respond but would simply say that being a Tamil was
was not in itself grounds for being granted asylum.
AFGHANISTAN
4.
Despite our strong political position on Afghan refugees, UK aid
dropped in 1984/85 to £4 million (from £675 million in 1983/84).
UNHCR concerned we will
longer follow words with deeds. They
argue they need
no
large
UK
commitment to persuade others to
contribute.
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