S R I L A N K A
Island Nation
Becoming Departure Point for Human Smuggling
By Feizal Samath
COLOMBO - Relaxed entry rules into Sri Lanka for Indians and
Pakistanis aimed at boosting tourism and trade has also led to
the increasing use of the island nation as a conduit for human
smuggling to the west, mainly Italy, officials here say.
Intense patrolling by U.S. warships on sea routes to Italy has
also been forcing people from South Asia, for instance Pakistan,
to look for other routes and use places like Colombo to reach
their western destinations.
On Jul. 1, Sri Lankan authorities detained 260 Pakistanis as
they attempted to board a ship named 'Invincible' lying off the
southern coast bound for Italy. That marked the first time foreigners
were discovered illegally leaving Sri Lankan shores on a foreign
ship.
''This is a disturbing trend and we are on the track of the
kingpins here and in Pakistan who are responsible,'' said Senior
Police Superintendent D S Y Samaratunga.
Authorities here are perturbed at the turn of events, particularly
since Pakistanis have been using visa-on-arrival access to Sri
Lanka for more than 10 years. Indians were offered this facility
only since last year.
Hundreds of Indians and other South Asians have been visiting
Sri Lanka in the past 18 months, making use of cheaper travel
packages and a peaceful environment made possible during the ceasefire
that began in December 2001 between the government and Tamil rebels.
Clearly, easier access has brought economic benefits to this
South Asian island nation. Indians last year accounted for the
largest number of visitors to Sri Lanka, eclipsing traditional
tourism-generating markets like Germany and Britain.
But the free and unrestricted flow of South Asians to Sri Lanka
also means it is likely that Pakistanis, like those caught in
July, may also be using this route for other means.
Intelligence officers from the Navy, who declined to be named,
say that the heavy patrolling of the West Indian Ocean entrance
into the Red Sea by U.S. warships -- since the Sep. 11, 2001 terrorist
attacks in New York and Washington -- may be forcing people to
use other channels to enter the west illegally.
Since Sep. 11, U.S. authorities have also placed restrictions
on seafarers of many countries, including Pakistan, when entering
U.S. ports.
Thus, ''Pakistanis on board non-Pakistani ships are unlikely
to arouse suspicion particularly when accompanied by Sri Lankans
as they pass U.S. warships in open sea,'' said a senior commander
from the Sri Lankan navy.
The recent success of Sri Lankans going to Italy illegally by
boat may also have prompted other nationals to travel through
Colombo. Dozens of Sri Lankans have traveled on un-seaworthy boats
under difficult conditions to Italy. Many have succeeded, while
the authorities were able to seize only a few boats and their
human cargo before they left Sri Lanka.
Police Superintendent Samaratunga said that last year, 808 Sri
Lankans and 70 foreigners were arrested while trying to go to
Italy on illegal boats. This year, police arrested 70 Sri Lankans
and about 300 foreigners, including the latest group of Pakistanis.
Most Sri Lankans seek greener pastures abroad for economic reasons
and Italy seems to be the most preferred country now because of
easier access than other countries.
David Soysa, director at the Migrant Workers Centre in Colombo,
said that Sri Lankans prefer to migrate to Italy for many reasons
and economic impetus drives the push for migration to the west.
”There is a labour shortage and the population is ageing.
There are also many Sri Lankan networks that help others to hide
on arrival,” he said in an interview.
He estimates that there are now 50,000 to 100,000 Sri Lankans
in Italy. Sri Lankans have found many ways of hiding there and
often after three years are able to get citizenship rights after
working in hotels, restaurants and shops, Soysa said.
Soysa, who has worked on migration issues for many years, said
that the fact that Italy often provides amnesties to illegal immigrants
is an additional attraction for Sri Lankans.
The migration into Italy prompted the Sri Lankan government
to bring in tighter surveillance of the seas and stricter penalties.
Italy, happy with Sri Lankan efforts to deter human smuggling,
has also offered 1,000 legitimate job opportunities late last
year to Sri Lankans.
In the past few months, police have also detained some Indians
and Bangladeshis with forged passports and other documents which
they say may be connected to the similar human smuggling operation
using the sea route.
It was on a tip-off that a ship that had docked into Colombo
port may be involved in human smuggling that Sisira Mendis, director
of the Police Criminal Investigation
Department, ordered his team into action last month.
The ship had loaded an unusually large quantity of food, such
as huge stocks of rice, wheat flour, sugar, and potatoes for its
seven-member crew, most of whom were Russian and Ukrainian.
It moved out of Colombo on Jun. 20, then anchored offshore of
the southern town of Tangalle.
Close to midnight on Jul. 1, busloads of Pakistanis who arrived
in vans and three-wheel taxis got off the small fishing village
of Kudawella in the Tangalle district and made their way quietly
to fishing trawlers. These vessels were to take them to the Russian-crewed
ship.
Six Sri Lankans were also joining them in the journey to Italy.
Pakistani nationals were said to have paid up to 500,000 rupees
(about 5,000 dollars) whereas Sri Lankan pay more than half that
amount.
But because of choppy seas, the shore was deserted and there
were no other fishing boats. As the would-be immigrants began
boarding the trawlers, police teams came in and navy boats surrounded
the 'Invincible'. All were detained, including the crew.
