Request for Asylum in Australia for Doctors detained by the

Dear Sir,

We would like to highlight the plight of three Sri Lankan Tamil doctors, Dr Thurairaja Varatharajah, Dr Thangamuttu Sathyamurthi, and Dr V Shanmugarajah who were in the conflict zone in Sri Lanka until the final stages of the conflict. These doctors have been detained by the Sri Lankan Government since the end of fighting several weeks ago.

The Sri Lankan government has forced all media and international non-government organisations to leave the conflict zone, ensuring an absence of neutral observers to report any violation of human rights and war crimes committed during the conflict. These three doctors provided first-hand information about human suffering, injuries and death to the international community from the so called safe zone. These doctors in spite of grave personal risk from both sides of the conflict, provided vital medical services in makeshift hospitals for thousands of injured civilians including women, children and the elderly. The bravery and dedication shown by these doctors has been recognised by the UN with a nomination for the UN Peace prize.

The Sri Lankan Government continues to keep all international media at bay even to refugee zones (except for the orchestrated media tours by the Sri Lankan Government) and has imposed severe restrictions on the UN and the other international NGOs who are seeking to serve injured, malnourished and internally displaced Tamils in northern Sri Lanka. Information is slowly leaking out and only now is the magnitude of the human catastrophe unfolding to the rest of the world.

We have learned that these doctors have been imprisoned and are being denied access to legal representation and to NGOs such as the ICRC and UNCHR. The only crimes these doctors have committed was to stay in the conflict zone, disregarding their own safety, to provide medical help to thousands of injured people and plead for help from the outside world.

As a health professional and a member of the Australian medical community, I wish to express my deep concern regarding the plight of these doctors. As a country, which jealously guards human rights and lives around the world, we have a moral and international responsibility to help these three doctors.

We strongly exhort the Commonwealth of Australia to urgently negotiate with the Sri Lankan Government to release these doctors from prison and provide asylum in Australia if necessary.

Thanking you in anticipation of your immediate and vital action.

Yours sincerely,

The Concerned Tamil Health Professionals of Australia



Copy to:
1) Hon. Stephen Smith, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

2) Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister; Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations; Minister for Education; Minister for Social Inclusion.
Commonwealth of Australia, Capital Hill, ACT AUSTRALIA

3) Hon. Malcom Turnbull MP, Opposition leader,
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives 
Parliament House 
Canberra ACT 2600

4) The President, Australian Labour Party
PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600

5) Hon. Nathan Rees, The Premier NSW, GPO Box 5341,
SYDNEY NSW 2001

6) Hon. John Brumby, The Premier, Victoria, Parliament House,
East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002

7) Hon. Anna Bligh, Premier of Queensland, PO Box 15185
City East
Queensland 4002

8) International Non Governmental Organisations: World Vision, Caritas