5
Through contact with Sri Lankan officials, Martin Ennals believed Sri Lanka was worried about hostile publicity of their handling of the situation that might affect their aid programme. They were not keen on international relief programmes operating in Sri Lanka. The Indian Government was not keen on having UNHCR operating in Tamil Nadu province, where there were believed to be 119,000 Tamil refugees. Of Tamils in Sri Lanka it was believed those working in the plantations in the south were least at risk as they did not hold Sri Lankan citizenship and had least contact with Tamil separatist groups. As the situation was extremely uncertain at present, he believed it was very important that no Tamils were returned to Sri Lanka.
At a recent meeting Martin Ennals had had with representatives of Tamil organisations, he said they had been unanimous in agreeing the need for educational programmes for Tamil refugees in Europe.
Martin Barber (BRC) said the BRC was locked in debate with the Department of Education and Science on the question of those people on Exceptional Leave to Remain having the educational rights of home students. At present, they had the same rights as home students concerning fees, but had no right to mandatory or discretionary awards. There was some hope of a breakthrough, and this would benefit Tamils and other refugee groups in the UK.
Phillip Rudge (ECRE) reported on the situation for Tamils seeking asylum in Europe. The major change since the last meeting was in Germany. The Fast and West German Governments had agreed that as of mid-July the East German authorities would require transit visas of Tamil asylum-seekers passing through the hitherto open Berlin border. This was a quid pro quo for a substantial increase in economic credits from the Federal Republic. As part of the agreement Aeroflot and Interflug had agreed not to transport Tamils from Sri Lanka unless in possession of this visa. Approximately 2,100 Tamils came through East Berlin in June, and approximately 2,100 up until mid-July when this new policy was implemented, putting a complete stop to passage through this crossing point for Tamils. However, approximately 3,200 Tamils entered the Federal Republic during August, some of whom were backlogged from Berlin, but many came in through Frankfurt.
With reference to the Standing International Forum on Ethnic Conflict, Phillip Rudge said that the European agencies under the auspices of ECRE had been involved in the growing debate linking European asylum policy with other aspects of foreign policy as they affect longer term regional solutions for mass-exodus. The agencies would welcome the kind of analysis of the inter-relationship between human rights, ethnic conflict and development which SIFEC proposes to undertake, in order to raise the level of debate.
6.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
6.1 Foreign Affairs Select Committee
The Committee was informed that Jim Lester MP, the new Chairman of the BRC Africa Committee, was on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee. This Committee was now considering its next major agenda item, which it wanted to be concerned with Asia.
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