Australia moves Tamil toddlers to detention centre

A Tamil family of four—including two Australian-born toddlers—have been moved to a remote island off the coast of Indonesia, despite a court order blocking deportation, their lawyer said yesterday.

The family—who are fighting to remain in Australia because they fear persecution in Sri Lanka—were moved to Christmas Island detention facility overnight, lawyer Carina Ford said, speaking in Melbourne.

The island is a remote Australian territory around 350 kilometres (225 miles) south of Java. The detention centre there had been closed for years.

“I don’t really understand the motive,” Ford said, adding that it made adequate legal representation more difficult. “The family are obviously distressed.”

The family’s neighbours from rural Queensland have campaigned for them to stay.

 

Australia moves Tamil toddlers to detention centre

A Tamil family of fourincluding two Australian-born toddlershave been moved to a remote island off the coast of Indonesia, despite a court order blocking deportation, their lawyer said yesterday. The familywho are fighting to remain in Australia because they fear persecution in Sri Lankawere moved to Christmas Island detention facility overnight, lawyer Carina Ford said, speaking in Melbourne. The island is a remote Australian territory around 350 kilometres (225 miles) south of Java. The detention centre there had been closed for years. I dont really understand the motive, Ford said, adding that it made adequate legal representation more difficult. The family are obviously distressed. The familys neighbours from rural Queensland have campaigned for them to stay.