Australia/Antarctica News A boat of 153 Sri Lankan asylum seekers remains stranded at sea today after Australia’s highest court blocked the government’s plan to return the passengers to their homeland. The Australian government yesterday pledged it would give 72 hours written notice before transferring the 153 asylum seekers to authorities there. Anyone found guilty of leaving Sri Lanka illegally faces two years in prison. Refugee lawyers said that Australia could be guilty of refoulement – the returning of refugees to countries where their lives or freedoms could be threatened – if screening was found to be inadequate. The government, which came to power last year after promising a tougher policy on illegal migration, argues that refugees intercepted outside Australian territorial waters arent entitled to such protection.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 21:04:48 +0000
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