I hope this clarifies things a little.
SteeleRedux,
Not quite, Visa on arrival is only in major tourist hubs such as Bali. Arrive somewhere else & you'll find out very soon that it is money that you need to get home again after lengthy detention.

Steelwool,

I have not seen such a confusion of quarter lies, half lies and outright bloody lies since your last campaign.

Distortion No 1.
<<fleeing the persecution...in Sri Lanka ...little chance of getting a passport>>

We both know that there are currently TWO MAJOR sources for our boaties

A) Sri Lanka, and
B) Various sources in on the southern Asian mainland (according to the ABC the last boat turned around had Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Indians)

Now, those that boat direct from Sri Lanka may not have papers for the reason you proffer,but those that jet into Malaysia or Indonesia do --they must have ID to board a plane for god sake!

So pleases don't try to spin that one.

Distortion No 2.
<<Sri Lanka[ans] [from the] predominately Catholic region>>

WTF! "eighty percent of Sri Lankan Tamils were Hindus who followed the Shaiva sect."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Tamil_people
What about the other 80%?

Distortion No 3.
<<The reason for choosing [Australia] as a destination is...[it's a] Christian, a cricketing nation...>>

Tamil Nadu (right across the straits) 1/10,000th of the distance!
Speaks their language, has their culture values ...and they play cricket there too!

And please don't cite Amnesty International or other illegal immigration lobby groups as credible sources --it like citing a tobacco company about the health benefits of tobacco --though, on second thoughts, a tobacco company is likely to be more forthright!

<<I always find it useful to put myself in other's shoes>>

Yes, well, in that case there are a lots of used car dealers waiting for someone just like you.

Hi there STEELEREDUX...

I will admit that I have no knowledge of what protocols are required for one nationality to enter, transit or depart; from the sovereign nation of another ?

But I return again, to the singular reason that prevails upon me to again, carefully question ? Why anybody, who's so desperately and despairingly, seeks asylum in another country, will consciously destroy all exculpatory means of establishing their bona fides ?

Why STEELREDUX... Why ?

I've heard many reason as to what precisely, motivates these people to wilfully destroy their only means of establishing both their Identity and bona fides ? Frankly, I just can't see it, I really can't. OK, I'll place myself in their shoes. I need to exit 'a country' quickly, otherwise I could be killed or locked up for some indeterminable period ?

Logic, would dictate to me; take as much proof as possible with me - of who I am, where I lived previously, my various occupation(s), academic attainment(s) documentary evidence of marriage, children, a police report **if available, and without any attendant risk of obtaining it ! Most provinces in the Sub-Continent, furnishes locals with a police report of good character, for a nominal fee. I've personally witnessed evidence of the existence of these documents (they carry no weight nor proof, in any jurisdiction in Oz).

To me, I would want to do everything possible to co-operate with the Australian authorities, so as to manifestly reduce the chances of being rejected and sent back from whence I've come.

STEELEREDUX I see you've kindly provided us with some supportive, explanatory data from some of the world's notable refugee organisations. To be honest, these groups do try hard to assist many of those poor folk who legitimately require substantial assistance.

Be assured though, there are many of those who are deeply ensconced within those eminent groups, who have absolutely no ethicality, nor colour of right, whatsoever to be ever seeking succour or assistance, of any kind. Interpol have dozens of files on these parasitical leeches !

Well! strike me lucky! we have our very own sponsor of smugglers
Steelredux come friend we all know, just as you do, they throw all documentation over board having long ago been trained to by extremists in Australia, you know we know that.

Dear SPQR,

Lol. How have you been you old goat?

Good to see the lead in the saddle bags hasn't slowed you up too much.

It appears you have done some research, the question remains just how much. You see if it is just a little your probably should have put your points to me in a less strident fashion because then you don't run the risk of appearing a fool.

Negombo and the region immediately around it is indeed majority Christian. In fact the city's nickname is 'Little Rome' because of its highly ornate churches of which there are an astounding 20 within the city itself.

If you looked further down the Wikipedia reference I have added below you will see that over 2/3rds of its leading schools are Christian, with names like; Ave Maria Convent, Maris Stella College, Newstead Girls College, Loyola College, St. Mary's College, St. Peter's Central College, St. Joseph's College, St. Jude's College, Adventist International School, St. Nicholas International School, and St. Michael's International College.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negombo#Demographics

You will also note that an area to the north is predominately Christian as is the Island of Neduntheevu. Late last year Daniel Rexian the President of the Civil Council was killed. The issue? Islanders were wanting to construct a memorial for this massacre;

“On 15 May 1985, 38 Tamil passengers, including a two year old child and three other children, travelling in boat called Kumuthini from Neduntheevu to the Kurikkatuvan Jetty on the island of Punguduthivu were hacked to death by the SL Navy personnel who came in two boats.”

http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=36850

Mannar Island, also majority Christian was the scene of some of the heaviest fighting during the civil war.
http://www.padippakam.com/document/srilanka_monitor/monitor038.pdf

You can see both on this map.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Sri_Lanka_-_Religion_2012.png

I have put forth an entirely legitimate scenario of a persecuted Christian from a predominately Christian area to the north making his way to Negombo, a predominately Christian city, a place recognised as the major departure point for refugees, to board a boat for Australia.

Cont...

Cont...

Did I choose a Christian rather than a Hindu to make a more forceful point to the current audience? Of course. Not that I think a Hindu would be any less deserving of our help but this forum is the hand I have been dealt.

Now you tell me where I have 'outright bloody lied', or 'half lied', or even quarter lied'?

But then I think you know much of this anyway. You are just railing about any threat to the refugee bashing you continue to relish so much. Poor sod.

Oh well. Let's continue.

You claim; “Tamil Nadu (right across the straits) 1/10,000th of the distance! Speaks their language, has their culture values ...and they play cricket there too!”. You haven't mentioned the fact that many of them live in abject poverty in constant threat of intimidation and arrest from Indian authorities. Nor the fact that both Canada and Britain have larger populations of Tamils than India. Even Australia's 30,000 is up there in comparison.

As for completely rejecting Amnesty International or other respected organisations perhaps you might listen to Hilary Clinton; “"Now, reading the headlines, one might think that the use of rape as a tactic of war only happens occasionally, or in a few places, like the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Sudan. That would be bad enough, but the reality is much worse. We’ve seen rape used as a tactic of war before in Bosnia, Burma, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere.”

Look I get it. You want a clear rein to go after these desperate people without feeling and pangs of doubt or guilt. The fact that you have reacted so virulently toward me for what I have posted is because it threatens that freedom. I'm sure I will get more of a serve but ultimately your angst shows that somewhere under there there is some self doubt about your stance. That for me is reason not to completely write you off.