HandoutMigrants stranded for years on the distant Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia might be supplied the proper to come back to the UK, underneath a authorities proposal.
Round 60 Sri Lankan Tamils have spent greater than three years in a makeshift camp on the island, which hosts a secretive UK-US army base, after changing into the primary individuals ever to file asylum claims there.
The federal government has beforehand opposed bringing the group to the UK and sophisticated authorized battles have been fought for years over their destiny.
In a letter on Monday, authorities legal professionals stated that “following further consideration”, the federal government had proposed a “change of policy”.
Beneath this, “all families, children and those of the unaccompanied males who do not have criminal convictions, outstanding charges or investigations would be offered the opportunity to be transferred directly to the UK”.
It added that work on the supply was “ongoing” and a proper choice can be made inside 48 hours. “Details will be provided as soon as possible,” it stated.
In a telephone name with one of many Tamils, an official stated the choice to convey them to the UK was as a result of “exceptional circumstances” of the island, including that entry can be for “a short period of time”.
The Prime Minister’s Official Spokesperson instructed reporters at a day by day information briefing in Downing Road that “the government inherited a deeply-troubling situation that remained unresolved under the previous administration when it came to migrants who had arrived at Diego Garcia. Diego Garcia had clearly never been a suitable long-term location for migrants”.
He added “the government has been working to find a solution that protects their welfare and the integrity of British territorial borders”.
Attorneys representing the Tamils described the transfer as a “very welcome step” in a “long battle for justice”.
“After three years living in inhumane conditions, having to fight various injustices in court on numerous occasions, His Majesty’s Government [HMG] has now decided that our clients should now come directly to the UK. We hope that HMG will now take urgent steps to give effect to this decision,” Simon Robinson of UK legislation agency Duncan Lewis instructed the BBC.
“Today’s decision is an enormous relief to our clients and we urge the home secretary to close the camp and bring our clients here without any further delay,” said Leigh Day lawyer Tom Short.
“It looks like a dream. I don’t know what to think,” one Tamil stated after receiving a name from an official with the information.
The UK had previously offered some of the group a temporary move to Romania with the possibility of then coming to the UK. Others were offered financial incentives to return to Sri Lanka.
The latest development comes after the UK announced last month that it was handing sovereignty of British Indian Ocean Territory (Biot), which includes Diego Garcia, to Mauritius. The military base, however, will remain on the island.
Under a separate deal last month, future migrants arriving on Biot before the arrangement with Mauritius comes into force will be transferred to the island of St Helena – another UK territory some 5,000 miles away.
In court on Monday, lawyers said three people with criminal convictions may be sent to the island of Montserrat – a British territory in the Caribbean – to serve their sentences.
The BBC was recently granted unprecedented access to Diego Garcia to attend a court hearing, which is set to determine whether the Tamils had been unlawfully detained.
During the visit, the migrants walked the court through military tents they have been living in, pointing out damp, tears in the canvas, droppings, and a rats’ nest above one of the beds.
Over the past three years, there have been multiple hunger strikes on the island, and numerous incidents of self-harm and suicide attempts after which some people have been transferred to Rwanda for medical care.
“For three years I have been caged. Now they are releasing me but I don’t know what to do. I feel a bit blank,” one man in Rwanda said.
“I am very happy because I am coming to the UK. I thought they would send me to some other country.”
The group contains 16 kids. Most are awaiting ultimate choices on claims for worldwide safety – which the United Nations says is akin to refugee standing – or interesting in opposition to rejections. In whole, eight have been granted worldwide safety.
