Officials of the Department of Immigration and Emigration have reportedly attempted to forcefully ensure that the Pakistani nationals sign an agreement that states that they leave the country voluntarily, by threatening them and severely mistreating them.
Source/Credit: Ceylon Today
By Niranjala Ariywansha | August 13, 2014
Lakshan Dias, a lawyer representing the Pakistani refugees, who are in Sri Lanka under the protection of the UNHCR, has stated that those held at the Boossa Detention Centre in Galle have been threatened and ill-treated by officials.
Dias said that officials of the Department of Immigration and Emigration have reportedly attempted to forcefully ensure that the Pakistani nationals sign an agreement that states that they leave the country voluntarily, by threatening them and severely mistreating them.
"The Sri Lankan Government has already deported 76 Pakistanis. However, some Pakistan nationals held at the Boossa Detention Centre have resorted to staying naked in protest against being deported. This has been going on for several days. Certain officials have attempted to threaten these detainees into signing the aforementioned agreement allegedly using force," he pointed out.
When contacted, the Controller of the Department of Immigration and Emigration, Chulananda Perera refuted all allegations.
"We anyway deport 10 such individuals daily, there is no need for us to force and threaten them. Also, the allegation that there was a protest where the detainees removed all their clothes is false".
Perera continued that these individuals violate Visa regulations by applying for tourist visa and after arriving in Sri Lanka, they are involved in illegal activities that cause harm to the society.
"We have notified the UNHCR not to release these people to the public and instead settle them in one place. We also requested them to arrange the Visa application within six months and sort out the issues of these refugees. However, they haven't done it so far. The delay results in these people residing in the country for years. Therefore, I received orders from above to deport these individuals."
Officials of the UNHCR were not available for comment when contacted. Since 6 August the Department of Immigration and Emigration has taken steps to arrest 1,475 Pakistani nationals who were residing in the country illegally.
Several lawyers, including Dias, who are involved in this situation, filed a Fundamental Rights case, on Friday (8), in the Supreme Court on behalf of the Pakistan individuals. He stated that the Inter Religious Council along with the Catholic, Anglican, Christian, Protestant and Pentecostal churches have been informed of the situation.
Courtesy: A.A. Aziz
Read original post here: Refugees threatened claims lawyer
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