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HELP US END THE FREEZE ON SRI LANKAN ASYLUM SEEKERS ON JULY 9

On the 9th of April 2010, the Australian Government froze the processing of all Sri Lankan asylum seekers who arrived by boat, for a period of three months, affecting hundreds of vulnerable people fleeing persecution. This policy decision was an illegal, discriminatory and unjust one as it breached Article 3 of the Refugee Convention, Article 26 of the ICCPR and Article 2 of the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination.

Furthermore, the situation in Sri Lanka has not evolved or improved contrary to justify such a freeze. “No area in Sri Lanka is entirely safe if someone has run afoul of an armed group or a powerful politician, been identified as a critic of the government or is suspected in some way of being ‘anti-government’,” according to Amnesty International’s Sri Lanka researcher Yolanda Foster. “It is a small island with tight communities; it is a difficult place to hide.”

On the 9th of July, the new Prime Minister will be making a decision on whether or not to continue a policy that has caused untold suffering to Sri Lankan asylum seekers who are held on Christmas Island and remote detention centres in Australia.

We can influence her decision. We need your urgent support to take action and send a clear message to our new Prime Minister that the Australian community does not support this injustice.

We need you, by the 8th of July, to email, fax or write to the Prime Minister.

Below are her contact details to e – mail, fax or write to the PM.

We have an example letter that you can use or get inspiration from right here. We also have below a series of links that you can click on to if you want to become more informed before writing to the Prime Minister.

Also, if you live in Julia Gillard’s electorate, we strongly encourage you to write to her personally or make a visit to her office.

PM Mailing address

The Hon. Julia Gillard, MP

Prime Minister

Parliament House

Canberra ACT 2600

Email

www.pm.gov.au/PM_Connect/Email_your_PM

Fax

03 9741 6213

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR LETTER

http://www.amnesty.org.au/news/comments/23293