The British Tamil musician MIA has called for Australian airlines to end their involvement in the deportation of asylum seekers, joining a campaign targeting Qantas and Virgin Australia with shareholder action.
“The stories of how children, women and men are treated when they seek asylum in Australia are horrifying,” MIA, real name Matangi Arulpragasam, said, speaking to Guardian Australia.
“If the Australian government won’t treat refugees and asylum seekers with dignity and fairness, then it falls to the rest of us to make sure that they are the given the best chance to rebuild their life in peace.”
“Deportation is not an option. In the case of Tamils in Sri Lanka, several organisations including the UN have outlined ongoing torture and intimidation of the community. Thousands of Tamils remain unaccounted for or forcibly disappeared in Sri Lanka.
“By refusing to participate in the forced deportation of fleeing asylum seekers, airlines have an opportunity to play an active role in protecting human rights.”
Arulpragasam added her name to a statement by Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility urging airlines to end deals with the Australian government to deport refugees, joining over sixty high profile, mostly Australian figures.