Tamil asylum seekers who have been deported from Christmas Island have stated that they would be willing to risk it all to flee from Sri Lanka once more, according to a report by ABC News.
A deported Tamil man, ‘Murali’ in Jaffna, had earlier paid over $3,000 to be smuggled out of Sri Lanka in a fishing boat packed with 80 people, to make the treacherous journey to Australian shores. He told ABC news,
"The government doesn't like me because I am Tamil and they just assume I am a Tamil Tiger supporter".
The journey to Australia is extremely dangerous, with boats regularly capsizing. War correspondent John Pilger wrote earlier this year that "by one measure, 1,376 refugees have drowned trying to reach Australia since 1998, many within range of rescue".
"We were on Christmas Island for about 20 days... After that, the officials told us we were being transferred to another place. They didn't tell us it was going to be Sri Lanka."
"We heard about the people being transferred to Papua New Guinea on the television and the radio."
"I would still rather still rather live there than in Sri Lanka."
Speaking on the financial loss incurred, Murali stated,
"I pawned my shop for 10 lakhs or over $8,000 to pay for my voyage and I am still working to get it back now".
However he went on to add,
"I didn't know about the tough laws Australia has before I left Sri Lanka. But I am very scared living here in Sri Lanka and I would pay again to go to Australia."
See the full story from ABC news here.
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