A Tamil refugee was found hanging next to the Lorengau hospital kitchen in the early hours of this morning (Monday, 2 October). His death is the second suicide on Manus in less than two months.
The 32-year-old Tamil man had been sent to the hospital three days ago, after a self-harming incident at the East Lorengau Transit Accommodation centre.
Like Hamed, and others on Manus, the refugee had been mentally distressed for some time. But there are no facilities on Lorengau to provide proper assistance for mentally distressed people.
“He was sent to the hospital but there is no treatment and they neglected him,” one refugee told the Refugee Action Coalition.
His suicide puts the mirage of the promise of US resettlement into stark relief.
“Slowly but surely, Dutton’s policy is killing people on Manus Island. Four years of illegal detention on Manus is taking a terrible toll. The responsibility for this death lies with Peter Dutton and the policy of offshore detention,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“Dutton has been given so many warnings. This death is criminal neglect. The evacuation of Manus and Nauru is now a more urgent priority.”
The death has increased the anxiety and distress among all the refugees and asylum seekers on Manus as they struggle with their own circumstances. There are two other extremely mentally distressed people who urgently need assistance.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
