That must be the case, otherwise hundreds and thousands of Sri Lankan Tamils will not be fleeing their home,
bouncing in the bottom of unsafe boats in treacherous seas and end up at the shores and then in the detention centers like Villawood in Sydney. Some arrive as genuine refugees, peaceful civilians, escaping brutal economic, physical and political system. Some may be ex-soldiers of the Tamil Tigers.
What do we do with suspected ex-Tamil tigers. Men and women who have had little education in any vocation other than in laying traps, killing and fighting. Should we open our border to such people or should we let them languish in detention centers with uncertain future.
This is not the first time, Australians have to answer this question. In two world wars and quite a few minor wars, a whole generation of young men had been deprived of a normal life. They were trained not to read literature or to solve mathematics puzzles or to build new technology. Instead, a gun was shoved in their hands and off to an unknown enemy firing squad. They return home, sometimes not at all, other times with missing limbs and a fortunate few come back with intact body but a traumatic mind.
Australians know how to absorb men with skills which are obsolete for the economy and dangerous for the society. War veterans as ex-soldiers are called, have been settled with active community participation and government help. This has been a successful policy as can be seen by the popularity of RSL clubs.
Same should be done for the veterans of Sri Lanka war. Ex-Tamil Tigers are war veterans, not a security risk as ASIO believes them to be. They should be trained in vocations while in detention and assimilated upon their release in the wider society as productive members who do not have to resort to their war skills to make a living.
The question is, WHO IS GOING TO RETRAIN THE TAMIL TIGER so that they can become useful and productive members in their new society. Is it the role of the Australian Government or of a few inspired individuals. Should organizations like, Hindu Council of Australia, United India Association, Council of Indian Associations, Sewa International and many more wash their hands off the problem and become new Dritrashtra of a modern era