All photographs courtesy of the Tamil Refugee Council

Tamils in Australia rallied through Sydney over the weekend to demand permanent protection for all refugees, including Eelam Tamils who have fled Sri Lanka. 

On November 6, Tamil activists and refugees demonstrated outside Sydney Town Hall as refugees continue to be denied permanent protection under the new Labor government. 

Speaking at the rally, 19 year old Kumaran, who's mother is awaiting permanent protection, said: 

"After 30 days on the boat, we were taken to a potential home. Everyone was interviewed on their reasons for fleeing the so called civil war. It was not a civil war. It was an is a genocide perperated against Tamils. Whilst our cases were being processed, we were kept in detention centres for two years and were released on community detention in Brisbane. Later we were allowed to settle Melbourne until we were suddenly taken to Sydney and were put back in another detention centre." 

"Life in detention centres is unpredicatable and refugees aren't told how long they will stay there. It is a process that is always uncertain and questionable," he added. 

Australia's immigration policy has been scrutinised for forcibly sending back Tamil asylum seekers despite the threat of torture and abuse they face upon return.  

"Permanent protection is the only viable solution for Eelam Tamil refugees," Tamil Refugee Council's (TRC) spokesperson Renuga Inpakumar told the Tamil Guardian.

"We are urging the [Australian] government to provide all refugees with permanent protection. It is important that rallies continue to take place to ensure that the government i sheld accountable for their actions within this racist immigration system," Inpakumar added. 

"There are children who are not allowed to study and fulfil their passions in life, leaving many to experience mental health issues. The government has been silent on countless atrocities that have occurred globally such as the genocide at Mullivaikkal in 2009 causing many Eelam Tamils to flee their own homeland. Eelam Tamils are victims of an ongoing genocide that has taken place since 1948."

The TRC will be holding another rally on November 29 in Canberra as a part of their ongoing campaign to protect refugee rights.