Australia has done nothing? Perhaps Australia is learning to mind its own business, in some things, at least. Let the "international community" run around in circles, whining and peeing all over the place like puppies over non-existent 'war crimes' against rebels. It's high time Australian politicians took note of the trouble they have caused us with their sticking of noses into the goings on in third world countries. Refugees and the billions of dollars they cost us; terrorism, and hatred.

Bruce has made a mistake in flagging the oppression of SRI LANKAN Hindu Tamils with the much more contentious issue of "turning back asylum seekers arriving by boat."

Most Hindu Tamils live in INDIA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamils#India (populated by about 1 Billion fellow Hindus). If these Indian Tamils try out being "refugees" (really seeking a better economic life in Australia) then shipping or flying them back to India is a policy supported by most Aussies.

Further Research:

1. Bruce Haigh does not mention Tamils in India at all because there are reports of boatloads of Tamils who live in INDIA trying to reach Australia. There are many more INDIAN Tamils than Sri Lankan Tamils.

See top of the right sidebar at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamils India on Tamil populations. Note:

- India had 60,793,814 Tamils in 2001. Not oppressed just living among their fellow Indian Hindus

- and Sri Lanka has a much smaller number of Tamils, just 3,113,247 in 2012.

2. Why don't these Sri Lanka Tamils seek sanctuary In India - if they are legitimate refugees?

What a joke, the Tamil tigers were responsible for countless atrocities, and now that they have been squashed, there is finally a chance for peace.

Look, if you haven't noticed Bruce ? The Tamils lost and anyway, nearby India is a day trip in a less costly seaworthy tinnie and Tamil Hindus not entirely unwelcome among their own!?

But particularly if persecuted!

Therefore, there's no case for allowing them to claim asylum here! But particularly if it involves a risk laden journey in an non-seaworthy rotting hulk!?

It just doesn't add up for any except BS economic migrants!

Who ought join the Queue and retain any/all bona fide documentation, if they would migrate!

I believe we have consuls/embassies in both India and Sri Lanka?
Alan B.

After a decades long war, the international busybodies want to get involved and point fingers.

The only problem is that they require Sri Lanka to cooperate, and then they need the army to give testimony to determine what was an accident and what was a deliberate act.

In short, it's not going to happen, and the busybodies need to look elsewhere.

But Shadow

If Bruce has no cause he can't use it to get his Canberra Times articles published!