Sri Lankans cleared for fresh start in Australia - Migrants/Refugees
Dewi Cooke; 15/1/08
Rape charges against six Sri Lankan asylum seekers on Nauru have been dropped, paving the way for resettlement in Australia. The men are among the last of 83 Sri Lankans Tamils waiting for asylum in Australia. Seventy-five have been accepted as genuine refugees, with 21 of them arriving in Brisbane tonight. Another man’s application was rejected but he is appealing against the decision, while the 83rd Sri Lankan is in hospital in Western Australia. The chairman of Justice and Freedom for Ceylon Tamils, Wicki Wickiramasingham, said the six men were relieved to finally have their names cleared of the rape allegations.