Worsening SL economy drives Sinhalese, Muslims to take boats to Australia

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 August 2012, 20:24 GMT]
While Tamil families, especially the former members of the LTTE, subjected to harassments and genocidal sexual abuse by the occupying SL military choose to flee the island seeking security in Australia with their families on board the fishing vessels, Muslims from Katpiddi and Sinhalese from Negombo have also chosen to flee the island in recent days due to worsening economic conditions in the island, news sources in Jaffna told TamilNet Thursday. The SL Navy found Muslims from Katpiddi of the North Western Province among the 61 persons who were arrested in the seas off Chu'ndikku'lam in Vadamaraadchi East, Jaffna, in the early hours of Wednesday. In the meantime, media sources in Colombo said that four Sinhala SL Navy personnel were among those who had sought asylum in Australia in recent days.

Tamil families, fleeing from Ki'linochchi, Mirusuvil, Kodikaamam and Mullaiththeevu were the majority among the 61 persons intercepted by the SL Navy in addition to the Muslims from Katpiddi.

Four days ago, a group of 52 persons were arrested by the SL Navy.

Except two mothers and three children, who were allowed to go on bail, the remaining persons have been jailed at the prison in Jaffna.

While some boats get intercepted by the SL Navy, some other boats operated with the backing of politicians in Colombo are allowed to proceed, the sources further said.

In some of the cases, the boats intercepted by the SL military are allowed to proceed to Australia, the sources further said.

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