Tamil Boat People from the Merak speak of Betrayal

Debbie Guest, see The Australian, 5 January 2012, where the title reads: “Talk of betrayal in two-year asylum saga”

MORE than two years on from their arrival at the Javanese port of Merak, 40 Sri Lankan asylum-seekers continue to live in limbo in Indonesia and say Australia is ignoring a UN High Commissioner for Refugees recommendation to resettle them.

The Tamils refused to board boats to Christmas Island after their cargo boat was seized in October 2009 and said they instead patiently waited to be processed, only to see bids for a new life in Australia rejected. … SEE http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/talk-of-betrayal-in-two-year-asylum-saga/story-fn9hm1gu-1226236842438

 for this Pic and account, see http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/merak-girl-beats-ban-on-refugees/story-e6frg6n6-1225856140854 where the title reads “Merak Girl Brindha beats ban on refugees”

However compare another news headline: “Immigration Department rejects Brindha” on 3 January 2011 in http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/immigration-department-rejects-brindha/story-e6frg6nf-1225980642868

ALSO SEE “Alex jumps ship” in http://www.smh.com.au/world/tamils-spokesman-alex-jumps-ship-20100301-pdju.html

and Web Editor’s essay in http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/blogs/southasiamasala/2010/01/20/%E2%80%98alex%E2%80%99-kuhendrarajah-and-the-australian-media/

 Pic from ABC