Para Paheer

Para Paheer (Paheertharan Pararasasingam) was born in 1978 into extreme poverty in a low caste Tamil family of farmers in northern Sri Lanka. He was just five years old when civil war erupted and engulfed the country for nearly three decades.

Para’s father had to leave the family to save his son from forcible conscription by the Tamil Tigers. Left in charge, 16-year-old Para supported his impoverished family, including through forcible displacement, while continuing his studies with the help of some exceptional teachers and friends. His excellent performance meant admission to university to study economics where, in his last year, he was elected President of the Jaffa University Student Union. Involvement in student politics during the 2003 national elections and beyond led to his arrest, torture and imprisonment.

Fearing for his life, Para was forced to flee his homeland in 2007, in desperation, boarding a tiny fishing boat bound for Australia. One of the lucky survivors rescued in the Indian Ocean by a passing gas tanker after their boat sunk, he spent two years in the Christmas Island detention centre. In 2017, Para became a proud Australian citizen, and was joined by his wife and son after eight years' separation.