Police probe bogus asylum seekers

A considerable number of people living in the north have been successful in obtaining forged documents in certain occasions with the collaborated assistance of public representatives indicating that they have undergone abuse and assault.

By way of lodging falsified complaints at the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka indicating victimisation at the hands of the security forces ultimately results in submission of such bogus claims to visa authorities of western nations, which in turn accepts them as sufficient proof, successfully paving the way for the issuance of visas and safe passage to western nations.

Details of offenders

On February 28, 2012, Vavuniya Police based on information received, managed to apprehend an illegal place where such activities take place and recovered some forged documents, rubber stamps used to provide fake authenticity and related materials used for such illicit activities.

The persons who were arrested by the Vavuniya Police in connection with the illegal activity are D.M.M. Maddumabandara of Thekkawatta, Vavuniya and A. Ekanayake of Madukanda, Vavuniya.

Along with the arrest the items and documents recovered indicate that offenders had in their possession some letters which were addressed to certain individuals informing them to appear at certain Security Forces Bases for investigations.

These letters contained the national emblem of Sri Lanka, a forged insignia and a bogus name of a camp which is not in existence.

Having carried out further investigations, it was revealed that the offenders had issued forged documents of this nature to many asylum seekers who are seeking to enter western shores and obtain “Political Refugee Status”. For each such forged letter issued, the offenders had charged Rs. 10,000.

The arrested persons along with the illegal material were produced before the Vavuniya Magistrate’s Courts under the legal case number B 308/2012 and legal proceedings were held again on July 6, 2012. The illegally produced documents were forwarded to the Government Analyst’s Department for further investigations.

Another similar incident came to the limelight when a reputed businessman residing in Jaffna had appeared before and pleaded to the Major of one of the Jaffna divisions and handed over a letter requesting to provide him with an official letter indicating that his three children who are now residing overseas faced grave and serious life threats and had been subjected to constant harassment by the Sri Lankan Security forces. (Names and details are withheld due to ongoing investigations).

The real reason behind these attempts of persons like the Jaffna businessman is smuggling their “kith and kin” to greener pastures at the expense of the good reputation of the Sri Lankan Security Forces and the Government.

Further investigations have revealed that the businessman’s children are in western countries pursuing higher education and were nearing the end of their relevant visa periods.

It was also revealed that the children who are overseas have sought expert advice from an Attorney in that country in order to obtain an extension to their stay overseas, where the attorney had advised that it is achievable by means of providing a written submission indicating that they face life threats from the Sri Lankan Security Forces.

Draft letters made in this regard highlighting the salient points to be included were also handed over by the attorney to those concerned.

Having unearthed the truth, the businessman had affirmed that he nor any of his children were ever victimised nor were harassed in any way by the Sri Lankan Security Forces and the sole objective of fabricating such allegations was to pave safe passage for his children to reside overseas.The businessman also revealed that the same procedure is a popular practice followed by many asylum seekers in Jaffna in order to reach western shores.

The businessman, having failed in his attempts first by pleading and then by offering monetary offerings to the investigation authorities to refrain from disclosing information given by him, also revealed and reiterated that the practice was very popular and was followed by almost all the asylum seekers.

The businessman also added that a similar letter had been already obtained by him for the same purpose from one of the Grama Niladaris in Jaffna peninsula. (Name of grama niladari is withheld due to ongoing investigations).

This disclosure to the community in large is that may it be Tamil, Sinhala, Muslim or Burgher, the Sri Lankan Security Forces are being scandalously used as “scapegoats” by certain elements in the society to gain personal advantages.

Courtesy: defence.lk