LONDON, Jan 17, Reuter: More than 100 British members of Parliament petitioned Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher on Tuesday against the deportation of a Sri Lankan who says he faces persecution at home for supporting Tamil separatist.
Viraj Mendis, 32, has been in sanctuary in a church in the northern city of Manchester since 1986 to avoid a government deportation order issued after his student visa expired.
Mendis, a Sinhalese supporter ‘of the Tamil cause, is an outspoken critic of the Sri Lankan Government.
Despite a guarantee of safety from Sri Lankan authorities, Mendis says he would face persecution or even death if deported. He has lived in Britain since 1973.
Leading a delegation of Mendis supporters, Labour party parliamentarian Bob Liter land of Manchester handed a petition from more than 100 opposition members of parliament to Thatcher’s office urging her to reopen the case.
The reason…a number of MPS have come to 10 Downing Street is to express their belief in the preservation of life,” Lither land said.
Last month Mendis was refused the right to appeal to the House of Lords, Britains highest court, against the deportation order.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 20, 1989
