Courtesy: INSIGHTS Magazine Synod of UCA NSW(September 21, Melbourne, Sri Lanka Guardian) Who do you turn to if you have no job, no where to live, can’t speak much English and don’t know a soul in Australia?
If you’re a Tamil escaping the violence of Sri Lanka, it’s likely you’ll end up on the Rev. JohnJegasothy’s doorstep.On June 14 Rev John Jegasothy was presented with a humanitarian award by the New South Wales Service for the Treatmentand Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS) in acknowledgement of his efforts in supporting refugees, advocating for human nghts and bulldinq an inclusive society.
Refugee Week ran from June 14 to 20. The theme this yearwas Freedom from Fear.
Mr Jegasothy said it was a good occasion for the people of the world to know about the plight of refugees and Internationally displaced people around the world, especially in thenorth of Sri Lanka where there was grave concern for the basic needs, health and safety of close to 300,000 people.
-Sri Lanka Guardian
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Rev. John Jegasothy may be a noble man. He may be a selfless person much to be admired. However, this generosity seems to be directed only towards a certain race. Rather than helping the Tamils who comes to his door step so many miles away, he can help the Tamils who are languishing in refugee camps. The Tamils who made it to Australia are the lucky ones and who have all the wealth to find their way to Australia. Though most of these people land in these affluent societies cry foul to their local conditions, they are by no means are harassed people in their home land. Sure the LTTE did uproot most of the Tamils and force them to follow them where ever they took positions to fight the Sri Lankan Forces. At least now these generous Tamils should venture out to help their people at home rather than doing lip service referring to their conditions in temporary camps. Government has a huge task to feed them, give them reasonable comforts and also clear the areas captured from LTTE so these people can return home for safety. Also how to differentiate the LTTE cadres who has infiltrated among the civilians.
'The service is extended to 'others' here and back home'
While thanking Mr. Kajahalle for his sentiments and comments I will like to respond by saying a few things to clarify, that the service rendered to the asylum seekers in Australia are not only for Tamils but for Singhalese who claimed asylum, Middle Eastern and other Asian asylum seekers including Indians and Bangladeshi people. Service, settlement assistance and counselling give are given without any discrimination in a non-judgemental attitude. The Department of Immigration, the Refugee review tribunal and the judiciary system and finally the Minister of immigration will make the decision at different stages whether the asylum seekers are genuine refugees or should be granted permanent residence on the basis of humanitarian urgency.
Also service is being carried out through the churches and well wishers in Australia by supporting humanitarian aid and medical services among the people carried affected by the final war in particular. This is the urgent need at the moment, the resettlement of the people in the camp and the immediate help with proper accommodation, medical aid and nourishment.
In the meantime my call is to offer help and support to those who come to Australia as asylum seekers wherever they come from. To this end I work with the Service for the treatment and Rehabilitation of the Torture and Trauma service, Refugee Council of Australia, Amnesty International, Migrant resource centres, House of welcome and several other service providers. I have been supported in this mission to the Asylum Seekers and refugees by my local Church,other churches, Presbytery and the Synod of the New South Wales and the Australian capital Territory of the Uniting Church in Australia, for which I am thankful for.
Rev. John Jegasothy
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