Press releases
Tamils set for UK removal despite suicide attempt
Amnesty International today calls for the UK Authorities not to forcibly remove Sri Lankans at risk of torture, ahead of a planned forced removal from Gatwick Airport in London to Colombo this afternoon.
At least twenty Sri Lankans, mostly Tamil, face forcible removal on the flight.
Yolanda Foster, Sri Lanka Researcher at Amnesty International, said:
“Nobody should be forcibly removed from the UK if they are at risk of torture.
“The end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka in May 2009 has not diminished the risks faced by refused Sri Lankan asylum seekers, who continue to be subjected to arrest and detention upon their arrival in Sri Lanka.
“We are aware of cases of returned asylum seekers being tortured.”
Amnesty International understands that at least one of the refused asylum seekers, due to be forcibly removed, tried to commit suicide last night at an airport detention facility following threats he reportedly received on the telephone to kill him once he returned to Sri Lanka. The death threat followed an interview given to the media.
Yolanda Foster said:
"The British government has a responsibility under international law to protect people at risk of torture and should not remove them."
Amnesty International has documented the endemic use of torture in Sri Lanka and a culture of impunity prevails
Please contact the Amnesty International UK press office for interview.