Urgent Action to protect ‘Tortured’ Tamil put on a plane back from Australia to Sri Lanka via Bangkok

As of now 00.34 (thai time 26 July 2012) Thai for refugees managed to get confirmation that he is on board TG307 Thai Airways to Colombo and will be arriving there at 12.48 am (local time). Any follow up will be much appreciated.

26 July 2012 (00.01 am)

Dear friends

We have received the communication from Thai Committee for Refugees Foundation (TCR) and RISE, Refugees, Survivors, Ex-detainees in Australia and according to this report http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/tortured-tamil-put-on-a-plane-back-to-sri-lanka/story-fn9hm1gu-1226435181890. We would like to request your urgent attention on the deportation of an asylum seeker, Mr. Dayan Anthony from Australia to SriLankan via Thailand. He is reportedly a victim of Torture and currently under investigation by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

Mr. Dayan Anthony was on a plane TG466 arriving at Suvarnabhumi airport at 20.25(today 25 July 2012). His connecting flight is unknown but expected to depart from Thailand around 21.00,with about one hour transit at the airport. As of now we could not identified where about he is (Thai time: 00.01). He is now declared missing. We do not know where He is now with Thai authority or has been deported from Thailand to Srilanka with great risk of being tortured or arrested.

We fail to provide his protection in Bangkok. Even though we and our colleagues in Thailand informed UNHCR Bangkok office, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand about his case. We believe that he need urgent action to provide him the international protection under Refugee convention which Australia is the state party and also under Convention against Torture that Thailand is the state party. This case demonstrates a need to review the refugee protection in Australia and regional policy advocacy at later stage.

Thank you for your urgent attention and usual cooperation.

Best regards,

Pornpen Khongkachonkiet
Director, CrossCultural Foundation

Under the Campaignagainst Torture, Thailand
Contact person for moredetail:

1) VeerawitTianchainan, Founder and Executive Director
Thai Committee forRefugees Foundation (TCR)
Chair, Southeast AsiaWorking Group
Asia Pacific RefugeeRights Network (APRRN)

2) Madhuni K madhuni@riserefugee.org
RISE advocacy Team Refugee Survivors and Ex-detainees
level1, Ross House 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria 3000
T:(03)96398623|M:0430 007 586|F:(03)9650 3689|web:www.riserefugee.org/