interview of some of the refugees
R Lawanya
A group of refugees fleeing persecution, violence, and the risk of torture in Sri Lanka was stranded in the Indian Ocean in October 2021. They were rescued by a British navy vessel and taken to the nearby island of Diego Garcia. The British government made no efforts to provide adequate facilities and process them faster. Instead, they were kept there for the last three years.
Diego Garcia is a British overseas territory situated in the Indian Ocean, over 1,500 miles from the nearest mainland. It is mainly used by the British government as a military base. The refugees have been detained in a 100m x 140m encampment for three years with no access to education, the internet, or the outside world. They lived in small, damp tents infested with rats, under 24/7 surveillance by guards from a private security firm, along with regular patrols by police officers. All entry and exit points to the camp were strictly guarded.
In November 2023, the UNHCR conducted a monitoring visit to Diego Garcia and reported that the conditions failed to meet essential standards of privacy, safety, and dignity. They noted that the harsh environment was causing severe distress and mental health issues among the detainees. The UNHCR raised serious concerns about the heightened risk of suicide, attempted suicide, self-harm, and protest hunger strikes. Several individuals made such critical suicide attempts that they had to be evacuated to Rwanda for emergency medical treatment.
Between December 2 and 3, 2024, the refugees were flown to the UK after the government finally accepted that the situation was unsustainable. They are now very relieved to be in the UK, but they have arrived with very little and are still struggling with inadequate facilities. They are now housed in a hotel by the Home Office, which provided just £68 per person to buy warm clothes and other necessities, which is not even enough to buy winter clothes. They are also restricted from receiving visitors in the hotel. Security at the hotel informed Tamil Solidarity visitors that they are barred from entering any part of the premises. Tamil Solidarity had been working with the refugees since they were stranded in Diego Garcia. There are 16 children in the group, most of whom need medical help and assistance to continue their studies.
The treatment of the most vulnerable people is part of government policy. The previous Tory government was instrumental in rolling out divisive and racist policies that created a hostile environment. Now, Starmer’s Labour government continues with these flawed Tory policies.
The safety of asylum seekers can never be assured in a system where their lives are treated as political bargaining chips for electoral gain. We demand a fundamental shift, both domestically and internationally, to guarantee protection for those fleeing persecution and war. This requires not only providing safe refuge but also addressing the root causes of conflict and crises that drive people to seek asylum in the first place.
This means that the fight for the security and rights of refugees is linked to challenging the capitalist system as a whole. Tamil Solidarity continues to provide basic assistance to these refugees. They need winter clothing, food, and educational supplies for the children. We request anyone who can assist with providing these basic needs to make a donation or get in touch with us at Lawanya@tamilsolidarity.org. 07809269672