ASIO negative Tamil attempts suicide

A 28 year old Tamil refugee at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation detention centre attempted suicide in the early hours of this morning (Thursday 15 November).

The Tamil man who has been in detention for 41 months was given an adverse security assessment by ASIO in mid-2010. He was found this morning by another detainee, and was taken to hospital “in a bad way”.

The attempted suicide again highlights the tremendous damage inflicted by indefinite detention and the particular plight of the ASIO negative refugees, who remain in detention despite the High Court ruling that they could not be denied protection visas.

“The government has announced a limited review process for ASIO negative assessments, but the refugees still face months in detention waiting for their review. The Minister has the power to grant visas to allow these refugees to live in the community. Former Immigration Minister Chris Evans, in early 2010, raised the possibility of alternatives to indefinite detention for ASIO negative refugees,” said Ian Rintoul.

“There is no evidence that any of the ASIO negative refugees are any kind of threat to the community. This shouldn’t be a difficult issue for the Minister. It is long past time for the ASIO negative refugees to be granted protection visas and released.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

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