Sri Lankan refugees stopped from sailing for Australia By Anuradha Nagaraj in Chennai, India Indian authorities have intercepted a truck in Tiruvallur near Chennai where they found 33 Sri Lankan refugees missing from four government-run camps. 
The refugees, including six women and six children, were planning to take a boat to Australia, police said.
It prompted refugee activists to call on the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu to ease restrictions on Sri Lankan refugees living in guarded camps.
Campaigners said the case showed how desperate they were to flee India where they have been confined to closed camps for years and have no right to work.
"They are desperate people looking for a dignified life," said P.
Pugalenthi, a lawyer who represents refugees in Chennai.
"They are practically imprisoned in camps with no freedom of movement."
More than 100,000 Sri Lankans are estimated to have sought refuge in southern India, particularly Tamil Nadu, during the conflict between separatist rebels and the Sri Lankan army which lasted 25 years and ended in 2009.
The Tamil Nadu government runs 109 special camps, housing around 60,000 refugees. They receive an allowance, food and education. Some have been in the camps for two decades and many were born there. Most refugees have refused to return to Sri Lanka saying its government has not come up with a clear plan for their reintegration. They say if the Indian authorities won't grant them citizenship they should at least be allowed free movement.
Reuters