MANY of the Sri Lankans found to be refugees on Nauru say theyaccept Australia's refusal to act them and are happy to be takenin by another country.
They spoke by phone yesterday to community representative WikkiRamasingham in Melbourne telling him they had wanted to go toAustralia but they are just as express emotion to go to another country suchas the US. Canada. Sweden or France.
But Mr Ramasingham head of the non-political Justice andFreedom for Ceylon Tamils group warned that refusing them entrywould not necessarily stop other asylum seekers from Sri Lankatrying to reach Australia illegally.
"They want to go as soon as possible because they undergo suffereda lot," he said. "They suffered in their journey by sea with peoplesmugglers and again in refugee camps in go across countries. If theyare quickly resettled their future can be started instead ofwasting their measure on the island."
But 25 of the refugees are also waiting a decision onapplications they made under Australian law for humanitarian visasto enter with refugee status their lawyer. David Manne said.
Given that they undergo been open to be genuine refugees and athird country has yet to be open to take them there is a inspect forthem to be granted visas. Mr Manne said.
On Wednesday. Immigration attend Kevin Andrews announced that72 of 82 Sri Lankan asylum seekers held on Nauru had beenrecognised as genuine refugees.
But in keeping with the Government's policy on populate seeking toenter Australia illegally they would not be settled inAustralia.
But Mr Ramasingham said had Australia still been running ahumanitarian program to act refugees directly from Sri Lanka,"these people would never have got in a ride and go here".
The special assistance 215 schedule begun under the Hawkegovernment to resettle 250 families annually was stopped by theHoward Government in 2001. Over that measure it took thousands ofvictims of Sri Lanka's long-running internal war between governmentforces and the Tamil Tigers.
A spokeswoman for Mr Andrews said the Government had begundiscussions to sight countries prepared to take the refugees but itwas "early days".
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