TNAG-1528-FCO40-2092-Hong-Kong-Vietnamese-refugees-general-1986 — Page 109

3.1 TAMIL REFUGEES

Martin Barber gave a brief report on the situation of Tamil asylum-seekers in Europe. He noted that the Swiss Government had announced a month ago its intention to return Tamils seeking asylum in Switzerland to Sri Lanka. This had created a great deal of media attention and it is thought that the Swiss Government had made the statement primarily as a public relations exercise. As six weeks' warning of the removals had been given, it had allowed some people to move into other countries.

With regard to Tamil asylum-seekers in the UK, Martin Barber reported that the BRC had, at a meeting with the Home Secretary on 12 February, requested:

(a)

(b)

Exceptional Leave to Remain for the several hundred Tamils who arrived in the UK between the announcement of visa restrictions and the implementation of the policy and who are still on temporary admission;

that the Government should put an end to its practice of 'third country removals'.

It was understood that a response from the Home Secretary on these issues would be received within the next few weeks. It was agreed that information on the situation in Sri Lanka, particularly from Amnesty International should be gathered for use in the event of a negative response from the Home Office in order to give clear evidence that it is not safe for Tamils to return to Sri Lanka at this time.

4. REPORT OF CHAIRMAN'S VISIT TO PAKISTAN AND BANGLADESH

The Chairman had recently returned from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Written reports were available for those interested.

4.1

BIHARIS

The Chairman reported that there were hopeful signs of progress on the question of the resettlement of Biharis currently

in Bangladesh but nothing could yet be counted on.

He had made a formal presentation to the Pakistan President and Prime Minister of the proposals of the International Trust of US$ million for the settlement of up to a quarter of a million Biharis. The Prime Minister had announced formally in Parliament that the government had received this submission, was considering it and would shortly be giving a reply.

The Chairman also described the tremendous amount of public support in Pakistan for the resettlement when he attended rallies and travelled to some previously settled Bihari communities He had found that people were assuming that they would be coming and making preparations for their settlement.

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