The United Kingdom has deported 55 failed asylum seekers back to Sri Lanka on a charter flight Thursday after a high court judge rejected a plea from the lawyers of the asylum seekers to halt the deportation.
According to the UK Home Office 55 people, among them failed asylum seekers and individuals who had committed criminal offences in the UK, had now arrived in Sri Lanka.
Lawyers acting for the Tamil group Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) have argued that British government’s deportation policy was flawed and the returnees may face risk of torture and reprisals.
However, the London High Court Judge and Chairman of the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Justice Mitting has rejected the plea at a special emergency hearing yesterday just before the flight was to take off.
He has ruled that cases can only be contested on an individual basis.
Human rights lawyers have told media that protesters managed to delay the flight and take off at least 20 asylum seekers but the UK Border Agency (UKBA) has said about 10 people have been removed and the flight left with full capacity.
A UKBA spokeswoman has said that the UK deports the individuals when the authorities are satisfied that individuals have no international protection needs.
” We only undertake returns to Sri Lanka when we are satisfied that the individual has no international protection needs. The European court of human rights has ruled that not all Tamil asylum seekers require protection,” the spokeswoman has said.
“The UK has a proud record of offering sanctuary to those who need it, but people who do not have a genuine need for our protection must return to their home country,” the UKBA spokeswoman was quoted.
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