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The Nadesalingams, an Eelam Tamil family of asylum seekers who have faced more than four years of legal battles with Australian authorities, have finally returned to their home town of Biloela earlier today.
“I am so happy,” said Priya Nadesalingam, as she fells to her knees and kissed the ground, after getting off a plane at Thangool airport. “I am starting a new life.”
A crowd of locals and supporters were waiting for the family with signs and placards, and cheered as they disembarked.
The family – Priya, Nades, Tharni and Kopi – were removed by Australian authorities from their home in Biloela almost four years ago.
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Priya and Nadesalingham fled the Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka, arriving separately by boat in Australia in 2012 and 2013. Under the migration act, they were both classified as "irregular maritime arrivals". They were introduced to each other by mutual friends and went on to marry and settle in Biloela. Soon they welcomed two daughters into the world Kopika in 2015 and Tharnicaa in 2017.
Their troubles began when they were taken from their homes by Australian immigration officials to immigration detention in Melbourne. The family has faced many trials in the 4 years since they were removed from Biloela. However, the town rallied behind them and tirelessly campaigned for their return.
"Then Sunday is Tharni's fifth birthday, her first birthday out of detention," said family friend Bronwyn Dendle. “"We're going to have a birthday party in the park, which is what Bilo locals do.”
Read more from The Guardian here and ABC news here.
The family were allowed to return home after the election of Anthony Albanese as prime minister, following a campaign pledge made by the Labor leader.
However, many other asylum seekers remain in limbo, with the country’s controversial asylum policies reportedly still in place. A week after being elected, the government confirmed that a group of asylum seekers who were fleeing from Sri Lanka have been sent back to the island, after their vessel was intercepted by Australian authorities.
Barathan Vidhyapathy, an organiser from the Tamil Refugee Council, told The Guardian that the family has been through “unimaginable cruelty”.
“There are many Tamil people in similar situations,” he said. “They live in fear of being in deportation. We know that Sri Lanka is not safe for Tamils.”
