Deported Sri Lankan teen refusing medical treatment

6.00pm

The Sri Lankan teenager deported from New Zealand last week is refusing medical treatment.

The girl is being cared for in a Catholic convent in Sri Lanka after immigration authorities in New Zealand refused to allow her to stay after she claimed she was sexually abused by family members in Sri Lanka.

Director of Catholic communications In New Zealand, Lindsay Freer, said the sisters at the Sri Lankan convent were very worried about her deteriorating emotional and physical condition.

"She has been refusing to allow them to get medical help for her so they have insisted on it and they took her to a doctor yesterday and she is seeing another doctor tomorrow," Ms Freer said.

"They are looking at getting some specialised professional help for her this weekend."

Ms Freer did not know if the girl had refused medication.

"She hasn't been very co-operative and I know they are very worried about her and have even had to suggest to her if she doesn't allow them to get medical help for her they can't continue to be responsible for her welfare."

The deportation of the girl raised a public outcry in New Zealand. Her lawyers said she was in no state to be deported but others said a claim of sexual abuse should not be enough to qualify for refugee status.

The girl and her grandmother fled to New Zealand from Hong Kong, where the girl's mother lives, in 2002.

Ms Freer said the Catholic sisters in Sri Lanka would care for the girl for as long as they could or as long as they thought she needed to be kept safe from interference from members of her family.

She said she was deeply troubled before she left New Zealand.

"Hence the fact there is a large groundswell of opinion among those who have been dealing with her that she should never have been deported."

She said the girl is refusing to leave her room at the convent and was taken food by her grandmother.

- NZPA