The European Court of Human Rights has asked the UK Government to put a stay on removal of refused asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, pending the hearing by the Court of several communicated cases relating to forced returns by EU countries to Sri Lanka of refused ethnic Tamils'.

The Court has made it clear, 'Having regard to the current security situation in Sri Lanka, *Rule 39 has been applied on each occasion an interim measure has been requested by an ethnic Tamil'.

Which means that if the Home Office try to remove any ethnic Tamil who has been refused asylum and all legal avenues exhausted, the individual can apply to the ECHR to have the removal stayed, pending any ruling by the ECHR.

If you know of any Tamils' in the UK (refused asylum) whether in the community or in detention facing removal and the Home Office has not stayed the directions/ and if the person is in detention, not released the person from detention, please contact .

*Rule 39 is a 'Interim measure' served on a EU government by the ECHR, preventing that Government taking any actions against the person named, pending a decision by the ECHR.

For full text of letter from ECHR to UK, go to:
 http://www.ncadc.org.uk/newszine87/Tamils'.html