Tamil Refugees in Australia

Taksan and Aagash recently journeyed across the Indian Ocean to escape persecution and find freedom.

The civil war in Sri Lanka, 1983- 2009, has forced many Sri Lankan Tamils to seek refuge from their government in other countries, many escape to Australia by sea. Information about ships leaving Sri Lanka is organised by an 'agent' by word-of-mouth to avoid authorities finding out. The boats and ships used to escape are usually old, abandoned or not seaworthy. When they enter Australian waters they are met by the Australian Navy and the people on board are often taken to Christmas Island Detention Centre for processing.

Taksan.
The women stayed undercover and the men in the open. All the bags were outside and got wet so all the clothing inside got ruined by mould. For four days the power cut out, the ship was just drifting in the sea, I thought we would perish like the stories we'd heard. We used some clothes which we burnt and swung around to get the attention of any ships that might pass by. We took shifts and kept burning clothes for four days in case someone saw us.

What did you dream about on the ship?
I never closed my eyes for a good sleep to be able to dream about anything, I couldn't sleep. The whole time on the ship I was just worried for our lives, I couldn't sleep at all.

What was the first thing you wanted to do when you reached land?
Sleep.

Aagash.
Somewhere in the middle of the ocean we were caught between currents. Waves were crashing into the ship from five sides. Water was coming in from the bottom of the ship and had to pumped out to stop it from sinking. I can't swim, even if I could, the fish would eat me. When we arrived at Christmas Island the Australian Navy gave us a bottle of water and a room to share with another person. At first it felt like a prison but after a week we were allowed to walk around.

What do you see for your future here?
I'm a film director, I want to make films, I've been in the industry for ten years. For now I work at a community radio station introducing songs, but I can use this to talk about my work and make contacts.

What was the most difficult thing to leave behind?
My University transcripts, awards, certificates, newspaper clippings about my work. All these things prove who I am, they are my identity. I couldn't take them with me cause they would've been ruined in the water. I know I'm Aagash, but in Australia no one knows me, I can't prove who I am.