The plight of Sri Lankan refugees in India
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – “Sri Lankan refugees are not forced to return home until they want to and the situation is safe for them". But we must "build a new coexistence”, which overcomes ethnic and other differences. Fr Prakash Louis, a Jesuit and director for South Asia of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) speaks exclusively to AsiaNews about the plight of the many war refugees from Sri Lanka.
Many Tamil refugees from the long civil war in Sri Lanka sought refuge in India. Among the approximately 115 refugee camps rumours have spread of their imminent forced return now that the war ended in May 2009 with the defeat of the forces of the separatist Tamil Tigers. In northern Sri Lanka, devastated by decades of civil war, the situation is not peaceful and many refugees return home without either jobs or public assistance.
"Most of the refugees - said Fr Prakash - dream of going home in peace. For many that moment has not yet arrived. Our job is to accompany them on whichever road they take; for the time being that is here in India "
“In 2009, 500 Sri Lankan refugees received travel documents from the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) to return home, out of a total population of more than 105,000 refugees. Many of those who have returned have family, land and businesses in the country”.
Many Sri Lankan Tamil and Muslims are not overjoyed at the prospect of returning to their native country still under the heavy scrutiny of the Sri Lankan army. However Fr Prakash insists that the task of public and private NGO’s is to provide support to those who decide to return. " "But we must consider every possibility. Many refugees may want to stay in India. In this case, civil society groups should urge the Indian Government to allow it. "
"Others would be able to return to their country, especially those with better education." "Among other things, sometimes the families are divided between those who want to stay in the region and those who hopes to go to the Western nations [many Western countries, like Italy, have allowed the immigration of large numbers of Sri Lankans, because of the civil war].
"In the interim, there is a need to ensure that existing programmes are not phased down, and if anything, more done to improve the circumstances of Sri Lankan refugees in India”. “Basic accommodation and minimal financial assistance are provided to the population, as is access to the labour market. However, restrictions, such as curfews, are placed on their freedom of movement, particularly in some refugee camps near the coast. Conditions in some of the camps can at best be described as deplorable.
"Sri Lankan refugees also receive assistance from a variety of NGOs, including JRS which provides vocational education and training, and support to establish small businesses. In spite of the ethnic proximity of the refugees to the host population, there is little interaction between the two, compounded by restrictions on access to the camps”.
"The Sinhala and Tamil priests, work together for the recovery and development of the people. This encourages others to overcome ethnic and religious differences. Working together is a great sign of hope, hope for reconciliation and a better tomorrow. To build a new coexistence".
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