Another death: more blood on Dutton’s hands – a criminal system, a criminal delay

Offshore detention has claimed another life – Omid’s name is added to the names of Reza Barati and Hamid Khazaie, who have been killed by the detention system.

The lack of experienced staff; the lack of medical supplies; the lack of attention; the shocking conditions in the Nauru hospital and the hideous delay in arranging for Omid to be medivacced from Nauru has cost him his life.

Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Dutton are immediately responsible for his death. Just like the case of Hamid Khazaie, who needlessly died of septicaemia in 2014, there will be a coronial inquiry that can reveal the shocking conditions and political decisions that led to his death.

“Offshore processing is criminal and there was a criminal delay in Omid obtaining the treatment and care he needed. Those responsible must be held to account,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

“How many more lives and souls are to be lost before the government will face up to its hypocrisy of declaring that offshore detention is about saving lives at sea, while lives are destroyed in their detention camps.

“The government must bring all those on Manus and Nauru to the Australian mainland.”

Asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru have yet another reason to maintain their protests and to maintain their rage at a system that took Omid’s life and just as surely systematically destroys theirs. Attached is a photo of a vigil that refugees held last night at Nibok the settlement where Omid set fire to himself on Tuesday, 26 April.

“We are so tired,” Omid said as he set himself alight, speaking for all the asylum seekers and refugees on Nauru.

Today will be the 41st day of protest by the asylum seekers in the family camp on Nauru.

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

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