Human smuggling and Sri Lankan boat people in refugee industry

By Sarath WIJESINGHE

Human trafficking and smuggling is as lucrative as the Drug and Gold smuggling. The amount of money earned in the Refugee Industry is colossal and with minimum investment. Stage is already set by the post LTTE network which is still haunting for the benefit of the Industry of Human Smuggling and Refugee Industry. It is connected to the network of terrorism, as for drug and arms movement trafficking is a requirement to raise funds easily and quickly.

Political power is another requirement for a smooth implementation of the international network which is supported by Non governmental organisations spread length and breath of the “Globe” in the guise of humanitarian assistance. Conflicts in developing countries are breeding grounds for arm sales and indirect control of exploitation of the emerging developing nations. It is a cruel and a wicked circle, though looks sophisticated and kind to the less affluent. The strongest and fittest always wins in the Jungle. The world family is almost the same as the powerful Nations still dictate to the less affluent, unless and until they stand firm for justice.

Innocent Sri Lankans dreaming for a better future overseas are duped by “Immigration Sharks” in this illegal cruel and lucrative business which paint a rosy picture of a life of comfort and high standards abroad and the money earned is in billions. There is a price for the particular country. On the top of the list are UK, USA, Canada and Australia. Funds demanded are enormous. It will range from 50 lakhs to 200 lakhs. The mode of payments are suggested and implemented. If you have no solid cash the properties are accepted. Never mind even if it is your residence, provided it is of the required value.

Pathetic stories

Hopes are given for a bright future with pounds, dollars and Euros. Agents suggest victims to sell or transfer the only property in their possession or the entire business and wealth. This writer has witnessed many such pathetic stories of families stranded in the United Kingdom, USA and EU, after having dumped with the family by unscrupulous agents giving false promises and painting rosy pictures. With Immigration consultants are freely available in Sri Lanka and unfortunately the boat people on boats these days too are on the same boat as those who are stranded all over western and other countries still on the way to the final destination.

Boat people are well looked after and full publicity is given by the international network of refuge industry. Victims are on the increase as the transactions taken place are illegal and no documents are given -documents only taken from the unfortunate victims. There is no public debate or publicity about the victims and victimisation of such a large magnitude. Most of the times the immigration advisers/agents either disappear or have powerful political or other high powered connections with those inquire into the allegations leaving the victims with non option but to suffer in silence. Relations and friends abroad could guarantee or the properties in Sri Lanka belonged to the victims and relations could be transferred into the names of sharks or generally the victims do not hesitate to sell the entire wealth more than a good life the education of the children they give priority as an investment.

Victims are promised houses, employment, education for the children and more over an intensive training in Sri Lanka on the statements to the Immigration Officers with legal assistance before arrival as a part of the deal.

“Boat People” is a name given by the NGOs and the leaders of the Immigration network of rackets, to obtain sympathy and as a symbol of humanitarian assistance and the risk faced by the illegal immigrants in exploring greener pastures in the guise of political victimisation and persecution by the government due to race, religion or ethnicity and other factors in the definition of a Refugees in the eyes of the Convention of Refugees to which most countries including Sri Lanka, United Kingdom. USA, Canada Australia have ratified to adhere to. The current Boat People hit headlines, amply supported by some section of the world media ill informed and misguided. One cannot blame them to look for greener pastures but not at the cost of the nation by tarnishing the image which will have adverse effects on economy and the development which affects the entire nation.

Better future

Around 191 million people worldwide about 3% of the world population live outside the country they are born. People migrate for various reasons, work-family connections, settlement and looking for a better future abroad.

Migration has taken place from time immemorial. The West with their naval power conquered virgin lands such as USA. Canada and Australia wiping out and hunting the inhabitants and it is with the mercenaries that they overran the Traditional inhabitants of the land. This process continues with the fortresses erected by the states preventing newcomers to enter the territories jealously guarded for themselves in this world supposed to belong to the human being.

Migration from Sri Lanka is broadly categorised as follows: for settlement/economic reasons/political reasons/educational purposes/and tourism and visits. Sri Lankan labour is highly respected and considered to be efficient and dependent by employers worldwide and within Sri Lanka as well. How well we have exploited this National wealth is a moot issue.

Illegal immigrants entered illegally and settled in the West are in millions, especially in the EU, USA, and UK where the living conditions are satisfactory, though now gradually deteriorating, especially for the immigrants who the Immigration Traders are hiding from prospective victims. They are a powerful force politically and economically, as the local politicians need their support at the election and in day to day matters.

Local population traditionally are used to a different way of conduct in politics but the newly emerged immigrants are active in the political union and industrial arena as a part of political activism to straighten their Immigrating Status. The assistance they get from international NGOs is far and wide as they too need the immigration for their funding without which there is no existence of the Non Governmental Organisations. This indicates how the matters are symbiotically interconnected.

Unseen forces

Latest is Sri Lankan Boat People heading towards Australia. If one carefully follows the serious events, it shows they are guided advised supported and funded by powerful unseen forces. Every step taken by them are well calculated aiming at Immigration Status in the last destination and all publicity given will be made use at the application for asylum in addition the papers and documents already prepared by the organised network in the immigration industry. Most previous attempts have proved successful.

All the passengers in the Afghan hijacked plane are granted Asylum in the UK and the Sri Lankan Asylum seekers found the way illegally in the West are settled with strong resistance and objections of the local inhabitants.

Refugees and Asylum seekers tarnish the image of Sri Lanka in their selfish interests to claim for political asylum supported by ruthless NGO fat cat vultures, engaged in obtaining funds for their existence. The current so-called boat people have found their way to Thailand, Malaysia and other non visa (where visa restrictions are not in force) countries with the boats donated and constructed for Tsunami. This process and procedure is well documented in a number of articles and information published and made available in the internet. The foreign governments and organisations are misguided and misdirected by a section of the Political leaders and organizations interested in funds and politics and not for the love of the country or the people in the North and East, who now look forward for a new era of prosperity and peace.

Migration continues and this is a part of the process. During the World War II Jews were persecuted and the concepts and the developments of the Refugee Law and procedure were developed based on experiences of the horror in holocaust. Total number of migrants of Sri Lanka on employment abroad at present is estimated to be 1.8 million and the outflow was estimated at about 250,000 migrating annually for unskilled employment mainly in the Middle East which is the second largest income generator to the national economy. Ironically neither the white collar employees nor posh Sri Lankans in the west and the Refugees make a minimal contribution as they tend to invest and spend the colossal sums earned abroad. They are the people who make the best contribution to the economy of their motherland with their sweat and hard work under most difficult circumstances under the Iron Rule of employers, who are not so sophisticated kind to the employees about whom we often hear of horror stories.

Working paper

Dr. Saman Kelagama and the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka should be credited to the research on the subject in which an institutional framework and national Labour Migration Policy is proposed, which is an excellent document to start with as a working paper for the Ministries concerned and to implement without delay as the time is running out on the delay of or unskilled labour- especially House Maids - which is a main source of our income. We hope constructive measures be taken as the horror stories we hear are worrying and disturbing.

(The Writer is a Senior Solicitor in England and Wales, An Attorney-at-Law, Sri Lanka - A former Secretary of the Bar Association, A former Chairman Consumer Affairs Authority and Chairperson SAARC study centre in the United Kingdom.)