Militants from SL posing as asylum seekers-report

28 October 2012 01:34 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 17 Bookmark

A A A

Militants from Sri Lanka's civil war are posing as asylum seekers on boats headed for Australia - and could be financed by former Tamil Tiger combatants already in Australia, The Australian reported today.

Six former combatants were arrested leaving Sri Lanka this year, with another six people smugglers also collared.

Five of the six were arrested since June in a crackdown by Sri Lankan authorities. The arrests come after 14 asylum pirates stole a fishing boat, cutting one crewman's throat before throwing at least two into the sea. They were flown directly to Sri Lanka on Saturday after being intercepted by Australian authorities off the Cocos Islands.

Superintendent Prashantha Jayakody yesterday confirmed three crew members were still missing, presumed dead.

The pirates were being questioned in police custody, he added, and would face a long list of charges when they appeared in court.

Sri Lankan High Commissioner Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe said the country would co-operate with Australia with information about any former combatants who had not been rehabilitated since the war ended in 2009.

Militants were behind terrorist attacks and assassinations and also accused of ethnic cleansing.

"Anybody who comes here, if they have been involved in atrocities in Sri Lankan they could be wanted people. With the standing of our friendship we could share information on such people with Australia," the High Commissioner said.

His words came as Liberal MP Don Randall was shown a gallery of the faces of the main people smuggling operators in Sri Lanka.

Mr Randall was told by Sri Lankan authorities during a recent visit to the country that former combatants already in Australia are believed to be funding the militants' passage.

He said he was aware of Sri Lankans at detention centres in Christmas Island being housed near former combatants. "I am told these guys are turning up with old shrapnel wounds, they are obviously militants," he added.

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the government was aware of the issue. "The government takes very seriously its role in protecting the Australian community - we can not and will not compromise on matters of national security," he said.

Comments - 17

Lanka Lion - Sydney Monday, 29 October 2012 02:21 AM

I think Sri Lanka and Australia should work closely together to put an end to this menace altogether as it has tarnished the image of all Sri Lankans living here as boat people like the Vietnamese, Afghanistani's, Iraqi's and Iranian's.Our credibility is now at an all time low as it's in the news almost everyday.

2 11

lasagne Monday, 29 October 2012 09:33 AM

If Australia is criminal country as you say why do we still have diplomatic mission. And why you beggers including Sinhalese queeing to come here. Why dont you go to Iran and Libya

2 3

ramesh Monday, 29 October 2012 09:13 AM

let them go..we don`t want these terrorists in SL anyway.do we ?

1 4

kumar Monday, 29 October 2012 06:43 AM

I think you are have serious mental disorder problem. Better contact a phycologist.

3 2

Asoka Monday, 29 October 2012 04:34 AM

Countries who are killing terrorists and seperatists in this world, amnesty international, UNHRC , UNO, EU and other world organization branding as a illegal and not good for the humanbeings. When USA, EU and UK bombing and killing innocent Afghanistanis, Iraqies and Libiyans all these world organization not even open their mouth to the world. Few months back USA army killed Afghanistan freedom fighters and USA army urinate to dead bodies also. What a type of world we living.

2 9

Asoka Monday, 29 October 2012 04:37 AM

Australia wants them, then keep them now. Time to time these countries putting new songs to the world. Australia is a criminal country right from the begining and australia encourging for Refugees to come to their country. Now Australia is crying for nothing.

1 7

nicky karunarathna Monday, 29 October 2012 03:22 AM

The problem has gone as much as dangerous than cancer and Auatralians authorites have realized this like slow as a tortoise. These LTTE terrorist are not only financing asylum seekers but all most all top politcians in the world. Few to name are - most of the British and US politicians including Obama the corrupt(yes we can guy) and UN from Bank Moon downward, and also Australian Greens heavily depended on LTTE finance for their very existance.

4 13

Big Ears Monday, 29 October 2012 03:04 AM

The trend is now changing and most of the asylum are financial refugees. This is due to the bad smell of the Sri Lanka's miracle economy which is based on building high cost pavements.

5 6

jacoob Monday, 29 October 2012 02:46 AM

Hussain kaka,

if not what else is the best that they can do .. just goto the the srilanka kattiya and get subject to rape and torture .. BTW where is the report for the missing 40k?

18 4

mamath Sunday, 28 October 2012 01:51 PM

Aiyo..(sirisena)...Even Lower Kinder-Gar ten (Hodiya) students in Sri Lanka realized this long time back

2 30

Lanka Lion - Sydney Monday, 29 October 2012 01:41 AM

But the majority of asylum seekers who are seeking asylum in Australia now are Sinhalese.Are they also fearing for their lives?

13 4

Janaki Kalansuriya Monday, 29 October 2012 01:40 AM

No worries Mate. We can lend you KP as an adviser, courtesy of the GOSL.

7 5

Curious Sunday, 28 October 2012 11:23 PM

Why the fuss? If they want to leave SL let them.

0 12

Hussain Sunday, 28 October 2012 05:55 PM

I am surprised that they have only now come to the conclusion that the majority of asylum seekers are former LTTE fighters and supporters. We all knew it all along that so many of the LTTE escaped to become asylum seekers. Not only in Australia, but the UK, Canada and many other western countries.

2 24

terror Sunday, 28 October 2012 05:00 PM

Wonder why it took this long to realise this....

1 31

Nodrog Sunday, 28 October 2012 03:49 PM

This is what common people have been commenting about for the past so many months and the authorities just realized it???

1 34

Black Mamba Sunday, 28 October 2012 02:05 PM

Why make a Fuss now when Australia have been taking them all these years and rejecting genuine visitors?????

3 32

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.