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Australia handed over 41 asylum seekers to Sri Lanka Australia handed over 41 asylum seekers to Sri Lanka
(about 2 hours later)
Australia has acknowledged it has returned 41 asylum seekers to the Sri Lankan authorities at sea. Australia has confirmed it has returned 41 asylum seekers to the Sri Lankan authorities at sea.
The transfer took place on Sunday.The transfer took place on Sunday.
Rights groups had raised concerns that more than 200 Sri Lankans may have been handed over earlier, including Tamils who say they face persecution at home. Rights groups had raised concerns that more than 200 Sri Lankans may have been handed over, including Tamils who say they face persecution at home.
The government has not commented on possible earlier cases, but says everyone was subject to "enhanced screening" to ensure compliance with Australia's international obligations. The government has not commented on other possible cases, but says everyone was subject to "enhanced screening" to ensure compliance with Australia's international obligations.
The government says only four of those returned on Sunday were Tamils.The government says only four of those returned on Sunday were Tamils.
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged on Monday that a boatload of 41 people had been handed back to Sri Lanka, while not commenting on the fate of a second boat, reportedly carrying 150 people.Immigration Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged on Monday that a boatload of 41 people had been handed back to Sri Lanka, while not commenting on the fate of a second boat, reportedly carrying 150 people.
He said they were transferred at sea just outside the Sri Lankan port of Batticaloa on Sunday.He said they were transferred at sea just outside the Sri Lankan port of Batticaloa on Sunday.
"All persons intercepted and returned were subjected to an enhanced screening process," he said."All persons intercepted and returned were subjected to an enhanced screening process," he said.
Mr Morrison added that only one person may have had a case for asylum but he opted to return voluntarily with the rest of the passengers.Mr Morrison added that only one person may have had a case for asylum but he opted to return voluntarily with the rest of the passengers.
Refugee campaigners say Australian actions are a violation of international law.Refugee campaigners say Australian actions are a violation of international law.
Australia has been taking a tough approach on asylum seekers who try to reach the country by perilous sea journeys. 'Deep concerns'
Hundreds of would-be migrants have died trying to make their way to Australia by boat in recent years. Australia has been taking a tough approach to asylum seekers who try to reach the country by perilous sea journeys. Many would-be migrants have died trying to make their way to Australia by boat in recent years.
Under current Australian policy, most asylum seekers who try to make their way to Australia by boat are sent to detention camps in Papua New Guinea or Nauru. If found to be refugees, they will be resettled there, not in Australia. Under current Australian policy, asylum seekers who arrive by boat are sent to detention camps in Papua New Guinea or Nauru. If found to be refugees, they will be resettled there, not in Australia.
Australia says its asylum policy - which is also widely believed to involve towing back boats to Indonesian waters - is aimed at saving lives. Australia says its asylum policy - which is also widely believed to involve towing boats back to Indonesian waters - is aimed at saving lives.
Australia and asylum
Richard Marles, Australia's shadow minister for immigration, questioned the operation.
"Australia's international obligations are reliant upon a credible processing system and we have deep concerns about how that could have been performed by video link at sea in a way which gave an individual assessment, when all the time the boat was steaming towards Sri Lanka," he said.
Sri Lanka has been under heavy international pressure over alleged human rights violations during the final phase of the war against Tamil separatists which ended in 2009.Sri Lanka has been under heavy international pressure over alleged human rights violations during the final phase of the war against Tamil separatists which ended in 2009.
Rights groups say Tamils still face violence at the hands of the military.Rights groups say Tamils still face violence at the hands of the military.
The current Australian government, meanwhile, has been criticised for imposing what campaigners call a culture of secrecy around asylum, by refusing to comment on operations.
It is also facing tough questions over its offshore processing policy. The UN and rights groups have condemned conditions in its camps in PNG and Nauru.
Investigations are continuing into the death of one asylum seeker in violence at the PNG camp.
He is believed to have been beaten to death by a 10-person mob comprising camp guards and PNG locals who had entered the centre amid tensions with asylum-seekers, according to an official report.