ASYLUM seekers branded security threats by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation have been involved in a spate of suicide attempts inside the nation’s detention network.

Two Tamils given adverse assessments by ASIO have attempted to kill themselves at a detention centre in Melbourne’s north in the past month [...]]]> Daniel Flitton and Maris Beck, May 16, 2012

ASYLUM seekers branded security threats by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation have been involved in a spate of suicide attempts inside the nation’s detention network.

Two Tamils given adverse assessments by ASIO have attempted to kill themselves at a detention centre in Melbourne’s north in the past month – one of them twice.

A third man stood screaming with an electrical cord clutched in one hand late on Sunday at the same spot where a friend had swung by the neck until he almost died three nights earlier.

The man, one of 78 rescued by the Australian customs vessel Oceanic Viking in 2009, had become distraught listening to a Mother’s Day special on radio, and remembering how his mother was killed in Sri Lanka’s civil war when he was 13.

A total of 47 people in Australia have been given adverse security assessments, leaving them with no prospect of release into the community or resettlement in another country. Eight of them – six Tamils, an Iranian and a Rohingya Burmese – are being held at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation complex in Broadmeadows.

They are caught in a legal limbo, not permitted to see the evidence against them, nor to know the criteria ASIO uses to make its assessment.

Although they make up less than 1 per cent of all people to have arrived by boat and sought refuge in Australia since 2010, a surge in arrivals over recent weeks – including 670 this month – could mean more adverse findings.

After a recent determination by ASIO, a Tamil woman, Ranjini, and her two children were taken into custody at Sydney’s Villawood detention centre last week. It is believed ASIO found her former husband was a driver for Tamil Tiger separatists.

Melbourne refugee advocate Julian Burnside said there was no effective review of ASIO assessments. ”The fact that a person has been adversely assessed by ASIO does not mean they are a terrorist. They may have had a cousin who was involved in people smuggling or some other relatively minor thing,” Mr Burnside said.

”They face the possibility of being in detention forever … What the government says is: ‘We will try and find another country’. They say to other countries: ‘Will you take this refugee from us, with an adverse security assessment?’ As you can imagine, that’s a hard sell.”

The ALP national conference last year passed a resolution calling for an independent review of ASIO assessments but the government has yet to act.

The Age has been passed a letter by a group of nine men with adverse assessments sent to Immigration Minister Chris Bowen last August. ”We are grateful to Australia, particularly to the [Immigration] Department, as we have been accepted as refugees, due to the threat we face in our native country,” the letter reads.

”But, we are not allowed to enter Australia, because ASIO perceives that we pose a security risk to Australia. ASIO refuses to tell us why they perceive so. We tried a number of times to explain to ASIO and the department that we would never imagine causing any harm to Australians or Australia, which opened the doors for us.”

An employee at the Broadmeadows centre, who asked not to be identified, described the situation as “Kafka-esque” and said many detainees were victims of trauma and torture.

Even those who could sleep were often woken at night by their neighbours screaming, with up to 70 per cent of detainees supplied with anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication or sleeping pills.

The Immigration Department said a GP visited the centre three times a week, in addition to a nurse clinic and a psychologist being on site five days a week, and a consultant psychiatrist also calling each fortnight. A spokesman said no incident was reported there on Sunday.

But The Age has been told Jasee was restrained by friends after his threat to harm himself.

Aran Mylvaganam, a Tamil community activist, said Jasee was crying when he spoke to him about 1am on Monday.

”It was Mother’s Day. It reminded him of all the negative things that have happened in his life,” Mr Mylvaganam said.

Refugee lawyer David Manne said the system amounted to a denial of natural justice.

The Age sought an interview with Immigration Minister Chris Bowen to discuss the government’s plans for asylum seekers given adverse assessments, but was referred to Attorney-General Nicola Roxon, who did not respond.

Source: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/refugees-asio-despair-20120515-1yp6d.html#ixzz1v80tESIc

So many questions must be asked of the federal government [...]]]> Normally I do not forward petitions such as this on to those in my list but I feel very strongly that this case, along with too many others involving indefinite detention, must become the focus of all those good people of sound and moral mind.

So many questions must be asked of the federal government and their secret police who are somehow exempted from the laws of this country we are told is a democracy. But it is only a democracy for those the governments of the stolen aboriginal lands/nations say it is for. To suspend laws for a secret police organisation is but the first step to fascism and totalitarianism and must be stopped.

It must be stressed that asylum seekers have broken no international or Australian law and the government has signed the UN declaration on the rights of those seeking asylum.

I and others were at the Villawood detention camp today to present aboriginal passports to two tamil brothers who are taking their incarceration over the last 3 years of indefinite detention to the un to seek relief from their plight. Again an unknown ASIO decision has allowed the brothers to be psychologically abused by them not being told the charges against them, except that asio believes them to be an unspecified security risk. This decision is not appealable in any court, as it must be, and no release date can be given of extradition to sri lanka.

This is Australia and this is being done in your name!

The passports were/are a humane gesture to the brothers specifically but also to all those who are suffering the same fate as the tamil brothers and the young tamil mother and her two young children that they are not alone.

The passports would tell them all that not all Australians are xenophobic misfits and that Robbie Thorpe who issued the passports and I who attempted to present them today say as loudly as we can – we welcome the asylum seekers to the stolen lands of the aboriginal nations and equally as loudly inform the federal government that they do not speak for us. Always was, always will be, aboriginal land.

I was stopped by Serco, the private incarceration company, from entering Villawood as I did not have photo ID and the other 3 visitors were also rejected and ordered out because we had held a news conference outside of the centre! Like ASIO, it seems that Serco can make up its own rules as it goes along.

The brothers and others had prepared a meal for us such was their pleasure of our coming to see them but we were not allowed in. They then asked if they could package the meal and give it to us but this was refused also as was their next request to have a visitor inside to bring it out to us. Such an act of petty thuggery makes us concerned as to any possible repercussions against them.

Please join me in signing the petition and let the gillard government become very well aware of our total displeasure at their vile and inhumane actions towards asylum seekers.

fkj

Ray Jackson
President
Indigenous Social Justice Association

The four were visiting Villawood to present two ASIO-negative Tamil refugees with Aboriginal passports issued by the Treaty Republic.

The four have been referred to Serco’s Deputy Manager Shaun [...]]]> Four refugee activists were barred from visiting refugees at Villawood detention centre after being ‘deemed to have taken part in a protest’ at the Villawood gate.

The four were visiting Villawood to present two ASIO-negative Tamil refugees with Aboriginal passports issued by the Treaty Republic.

The four have been referred to Serco’s Deputy Manager Shaun Maxwell regaring the specifics of the decision. But Maxwell was unobtainable at Villawood this afternoon.

“This is a completely arbitrary and outrageous decision taken by Serco and the Immigration managers at Villawood,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

“There was no protest at the gate. But even if there was, since when did being involved in a protest allow Serco or Immigration to ban people from visiting refugees?

“It is another indication of the arbitrary and unaccountable power that Serco has to punish asylum seekers and now visitors. It seems both Serco and the Immigration Department have found even more creative ways to abuse human and democratic rights,” said Rintoul.

“We will be looking for an apology from Serco and the Immigration Department for this decision and a guarantee that they respect the right to protest by detainees and members of the public. And if they think that their short-sighted decision will prevent the Aboriginal passports being delivered to the two Tamil refugees, they had better think again.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

The Original Nation Passports – issued by Indigenous Elder Robbie Thorpe of the Treaty Republic – are being given to [...]]]> On Monday 14 May, 12.30pm, Aboriginal passports will be issued to two Tamil men currently held at Villawood Detention Centre who have being indefinitely detained and denied permanent visas in Australia on ASIO ‘security’ grounds.

The Original Nation Passports – issued by Indigenous Elder Robbie Thorpe of the Treaty Republic – are being given to the Tamil men by Indigenous Elder Ray Jackson in a ceremony to be held in front of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre on Monday.

Robbie Thorpe stated, “Indigenous people never ceded Sovereignty over Australia. The Australian Government has no legitimate right to grant or refuse entry to anyone in this country, let alone lock up people fleeing war and persecution”.

“We are issuing passports to these men because its what any reasonable, humane society would do. We expect these men to be responsive to Traditional Law, and respect the Indigenous customs of this land. If they do this, which we expect that they will, then they will be welcome to live amongst us,” said Robbie.

Ray Jackson, President of the Indigenous Social Justice Association, said that “locking people up doesn’t solve any problems, it only causes harm. We have seen that time and time again with Indigenous people, and now the government is making the same mistake with Asylum Seekers. This has to stop. The Australian Government must stop imprisoning Indigenous people, and they must stop imprisoning asylum seekers. I am proud to welcome people in need into our community”.

Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition stated, “These Tamil men are in a heightened state of distress. They have come from a dangerous and extremely repressive situation in Sri Lanka, and have been thrust directly into indefinite incarceration for no good reason.”

“The latest attempted suicide on Friday 11 May by a Tamil that has been refused security clearance highlights the terrible situation for the ASIO-negative refugees,” said Ian. “They are condemned to indefinite detention, without charge or trial. There is no right to know what evidence ASIO relies on for the negative security finding and there is no right to review or appeal negative decisions.”

“The Labor government has been sitting on its hands since last December’s ALP national conference called for the independent security monitor to review the handling of ASIO refugee assessments,” said Ian Rintoul.

The indefinite detention of ASIO negative refugees is the subject of a complaint by ASIO negative refugees in Australian detention to the Geneva UN High Commission for Human Rights. The Australian government has been given until July to respond to a complaint. The recent Parliamentary Report into detention has also called for refugees to have the same rights of review and appeal for their ASIO assessments as Australian citizens.

The Original Nations Passport Ceremony will be held at 12.30pm, Monday the 14th of May, in front of the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre (Miowera Road entrance). All are welcome to attend.

Media Contact: Shane Reside, Cross Border Collective, 0400 526 313

For Comment: Robbie Thorpe, Treaty Republic, 0415 801 170 Ray Jackson, Indigenous Social Justice Association, 0450 651 063 Ian Rintoul, Refugee Action Coalition, 0417 275 713

The Tamil man, in his early 30s, had attempted suicide by [...]]]> A Tamil refugee with an ASIO negative security finding attempted suicide in the early hours of today (Friday) morning. He is the second ASIO-negative Tamil refugee to attempt suicide in less than a month at the misnamed Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA) detention centre.

The Tamil man, in his early 30s, had attempted suicide by hanging and was dropped down by fellow refugees who found him at around 1.30am this morning.

The Tamil refugee, the first Tamil to receive a negative ASIO finding, had been in detention for 37 months. He was taken to hospital by ambulance, unconscious and with a weak pulse. His present condition is not known.

It is the second time, in less than a month, that ASIO-rejected refugees have attempted suicide at MITA. Many of the ASIO rejected refugees have now been in detention for three years or longer.

“The attempted suicides highlight the terrible situation for the ASIO-negative refugees,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “They are condemned to indefinite detention, without charge or trial. There is no right to know what evidence ASIO relies on for the negative security finding and there is no right to review or appeal negative decisions.

“The Labor government has been sitting on its hands since last December’s ALP national conference called for the independent security monitor to review the handling of ASIO refugee assessments, said Rintoul.

The indefinite detention of ASIO negative refugees is the subject of a complaint by ASIO-negative refugees in Australian detention to the Geneva-based UN High Commission for Human Rights. The Australian government has been given until July to respond to a complaint. The recent Parliamentary Report into detention has also called for refugees to have the same rights of review and appeal for their ASIO assessments as Australian citizens.

“Chris Bowen must urgently address the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Immigration Detention that call for refugees to have the same rights of review and appeal for their ASIO assessments as Australian citizens. This is becoming a matter of life and death,” said Lucy Honan, from Melbourne Refugee Action Collective.

For more information contact Ian Rintoul (Refugee Action Coalition) 0417 275 713 or Lucy Honan from the Melbourne Refugee Action Collective, 0404728104.

1pm Saturday, 16th of June 2012
corner of William and Hay Streets, Perth (outside the Wesley Uniting Church)

2012 marks 20 years since the policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers was introduced in Australia. This barbaric policy is at the core of the problem with [...]]]> March to End the Mandatory Detention of Refugees

1pm Saturday, 16th of June 2012
corner of William and Hay Streets, Perth (outside the Wesley Uniting Church)

2012 marks 20 years since the policy of mandatory detention of asylum seekers was introduced in Australia. This barbaric policy is at the core of the problem with our refugee system. This year, refugee supporters are coming together across the country to say mandatory detention must go! Join us on World Refugee Day and make your voice heard.

On the 17th of February, we shared our experiences and observations at a public forum. This is a recording of that [...]]]> Over the weekend of the 26th-29th of January 2012, RRAN went on its third trip to the Leonora Immigration Detention Centre to visit the children that are being detained there by the Australian government.

On the 17th of February, we shared our experiences and observations at a public forum. This is a recording of that report back.

Announced in July 2011, the investigation received immediate support, including a letter published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) by Dr Louise K Newman, Chair of Developmental Psychiatry at [...]]]> Health and refugee groups continue to await the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s investigation into detainee self-harm, originally expected in April 2012.

Monday, 23 April 2012 06:00, Rob Payne

Announced in July 2011, the investigation received immediate support, including a letter published in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) by Dr Louise K Newman, Chair of Developmental Psychiatry at Monash University.

“What happens – and this is well documented in research and reports – is that after three months of indefinite detention there is often a decline involving anxiety, depression and sleeplessness.”—Dr Fleay

Dr Newman’s letter urged the government to act swiftly to prevent more human tragedy, noting that the 2010-11 financial year had seen 1100 incidents self-harm and that detainee suicides were again on the rise.

Dr Newman emphasised research showing time in detention correlates to high levels of mental health problems.

This is apparent and on-going at WA’s Curtin Immigration Detention Centre (CIDC) near Derby.

“The investigation and [Dr Newman’s] letter are welcome,” says Dr Caroline Fleay of Curtin University’s Centre for Human Rights Education, who visited CIDC five times in 2011.

“I witnessed people falling apart,” she says.

“What happens – and this is well documented in research and reports – is that after three months of indefinite detention there is often a decline involving anxiety, depression and sleeplessness.”

“Not only is there very little capacity for individuals to engage, they simply don’t feel that they can, especially for activities that involve concentration.”

“You have to remember these are people desperately worried about the outcomes of their claims, and they often have family living unsafe lives in their homeland.”

“It all compounds.”

In her report Hidden Men, written with Linda Briskman, Dr Fleay notes the wide-spread use of anti-depressants, sleeping tablets and medication for stomach ailments at CIDC.

Mental anguish manifests in physical pain, headaches, panic attacks, loss of consciousness, weight loss, memory loss and thoughts of self-harm.

Unfortunately, very little is being done to improve the situation.

Hidden Men highlights grave structural problems, including a clear lack of understanding and expertise by some staff on how to handle traumatised detainees.

There are also myriad stress factors, including CIDC’s remoteness (2500km from Perth), poor communication (18 computers for up to 1400 men, no access to incoming phone calls, a ban on mobile phones), limited opportunities for recreation and harsh conditions (extreme heat in the day, high numbers of mosquitoes at night).

And all of this is exacerbated by overcrowding.

“Curtin was built to house 1200 people, but at one point last year had 1400,” says Dr Fleay.

“This meant that rec rooms were converted to dorms, taking away opportunities to relieve stress.”

“This communicates the message, ‘you’re not that important’, which just makes the situation worse.”

The Ombudsman’s final report is now expected in June.

Source: http://www.sciencewa.net.au/topics/health-a-medicine/item/1368-detainees-languish-as-investigation-continues

Mark Goudkamp from the Refugee Action Coalition and Ridwan Bakar from the Indonesian Legal [...]]]> Three Afghan Hazara asylum seekers who were tortured and beaten unconscious by guards at the end of February after attempting to escape the Pontianak detention centre in West Kalimantan, Indonesia have been refusing food since the night of Wednesday 18th April.

Mark Goudkamp from the Refugee Action Coalition and Ridwan Bakar from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) visited the traumatised men in Pontianak’s St Augustus hospital on April 16.

Goudkamp said: “On February 28, six Hazaras escaped through the roof of their room detention centre, which is partially funded by the Australian government.

One of the men, Taki Nakoyee, was beaten to death after he was recaptured. More than ten guards beat him with wood, burnt him with cigarettes, whipped him with cables, and gave him electric shocks.

The three witnesses to the killing were also tortured and beaten by the guards.”

Detainees inside Pontianak’s “Rumah Detensi Imigrasi” told Goudkamp that they’d heard the screaming for 2 to 3 hours from about 2am on the night the men were re-captured.

Two other Hazara escapees caught after Mr Nakoyee had been murdered, were stripped and forced to sleep naked on the floor of an isolation cell.

The other three Hazara escapees weren’t so lucky. They are slowly recovering in hospital, but Mohammed still has two broken ankles and a large cut across his scalp. Ali has an enormous gash along his left arm which required surgery. Abdul had black eyes, and badly injured ribs and legs.

The five men are currently held at the Merpati Hotel.

“Ten low level guards charged with killing Mr Nakoyee are now behind bars in a neighbouring city awaiting trial,” said Goudkamp, “Yet detainees told me they believe that the problem goes much higher. ‘We pleaded with the head of the centre, Ageng Pribadi to tell his staff that we were asylum seekers, not criminals, but nothing changed.’ ”

“Abdul, Ali, and Mohammed, already traumatised as a result of being tortured alongside Mr Nakoyee and seeing him die, are now terrified of recriminations for giving evidence against the guards.

“Desperate for Australia to process their refugee claims as soon as possible, they are continuing their hunger strike. It’s actually very worrying because their bodies are only just recovering from their beatings.

“The local UNHCR has recommended that Indonesian immigration immediately transfer them to Jakarta and to submit their cases to be Australian embassy, but so far there has been no response,” said Goudkamp.

To prevent further tragedy, the Australian government needs to act swiftly to process the men’s claims and ensure their future safety. Last Monday night, a message from the strikers said, “We think we have to continue (sic) strike with no eating and drinking. We are the real sacrification (sic) of this cruel action…We humbly want humanitarian help of Australia people and Australia (sic) state. Please don’t put us alone here.”

“Taki Nakoyee’s killing dramatically shows that Hazara asylum seekers are not safe in Indonesia. Australia is pushing the Indonesian government to detain and warehouse asylum seekers in Indonesia,” said Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition.

“There are now 996 desperate people (924 asylum seekers and 72 UNHCR refugees) in just 12 identified detention centres scattered across the Indonesian archipelago.

“The Australian government and opposition both feign concern about asylum seekers’ losing their lives at sea. Yet the death of Taki and the brutal bashing of three others reveals the fact that there is no security for asylum seekers in Indonesia. To get to safety, asylum seekers have to get on boats to get to Australia.

“Australia should be committed to re-settling all UNHCR recognised refugees in Indonesia. Yet according to UNHCR Indonesia’s latest factsheet, Australia has taken just 17 in the first three months of this year.

For further comment, in Australia call Mark Goudkamp on +61 422 078 376, Ian Rintoul on +61 417 275 713. In Indonesia, Ridwan Bakar (Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) on +62 8 138 854 4332

A 10 year old year old Vietnamese asylum seeker has provided a community visitor from the Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network (DASSAN) with a letter pleading for help. The 10 year old girl arrived in Australia by boat in March 2011 and has been detained in three different centres located in three different states since arriving [...]]]> DASSAN Reports:

A 10 year old year old Vietnamese asylum seeker has provided a community visitor from the Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network (DASSAN) with a letter pleading for help. The 10 year old girl arrived in Australia by boat in March 2011 and has been detained in three different centres located in three different states since arriving in Australia.

The girl is one of around 50 children detained in Darwin detention centres and hundreds in immigration detention centres across Australia. The NT branch of the Australian Medical Association has reported that child asylum seekers are presenting to Darwin hospitals after self harming.

DASSAN spokesperson Rohan Thwaites said “this plea for help highlights the need for all children to be removed from detention centres. Australian detention centres are rife with self harm and suicide attempts. Children should not be exposed to these sorts of incidents.”

“The guardian of this child and all children in detention is the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. The Minister cannot act as jailer and act in a child’s best interests as their guardian at the same time. He should be removed as the guardian of this child all children in detention and an independent person appointed”

The girl is detained in the Darwin Airport Lodge where Serco management had previously prohibited the use of crayons and textas by children inside their own rooms.

For media comment: Rohan Thwaites, DASSAN: 0402 555

In here, our lives are very sad, depressing and hopeless. As each day passes, we feel heavy-hearted and lacking any sense of hope. We have no way of knowing what our future holds for us. All the Vietnamese living here have done so for over 1 year, they feel very sad, and do not know what else they can do. In summary, our lives in this place is extremely depressing, we are suffering and lack any sense of a future. We don’t know who will help us.

Updated April 24, 2012 10:47:23

The Immigration Department says it is considering a letter written by a 10-year-old Vietnamese girl appealing for her release after more than a year in detention.

The girl is one of 26 Vietnamese minors who are being detained at the Darwin Airport Lodge, which is being used as [...]]]> By Jane Bardon

Updated April 24, 2012 10:47:23

The Immigration Department says it is considering a letter written by a 10-year-old Vietnamese girl appealing for her release after more than a year in detention.

The girl is one of 26 Vietnamese minors who are being detained at the Darwin Airport Lodge, which is being used as an immigration detention centre for children and families.

She says the children are “depressed” and “suffering” in detention, and they do not know who will help them.

Rohan Thwaites, from the Darwin Asylum Seeker Support Network, says even if the Immigration Department is finding it complicated to check their stories, the children should not be in detention.

“A lot of children, including this ten-year-old girl have been locked up for over a year now,” he said.

“Whatever they are claiming, whether it be for asylum or otherwise, children should not be locked up in these detention centres.”

The girl who wrote the letter has been interned in three different detention centres since arriving in Australia by boat in March last year.

In a translation of her letter she describes living there as “extremely depressing”.

“We don’t know who will help us.”

The girl said their lives were “very sad and hopeless” and they “lack any sense of a future”.

“As each day passes, we feel heavy-hearted and lacking any sense of hope,” she said.

“We have no way of knowing what our future holds for us.”

The Immigration Department says the group of 26 Vietnamese children are being “well cared for”.

Mr Thwaites says the Federal Government and public should respond.

“She’s hoping, I think as we are, that she can be removed out of detention so that she can start to live in the community and not be subject to incidences of self-harm and suicide and all the other things that come with being detained,” he said.

The man was cut down by Serco staff and has been taken to hospital. He was breathing went he was cut down, but his present condition in not known. It is understood that he has [...]]]> An Iranian asylum seeker in Darwin’s notorious Northern Immigration Detention Centre (NIDC) has attempted suicide around 10.30pm Friday, Darwin time.

The man was cut down by Serco staff and has been taken to hospital. He was breathing went he was cut down, but his present condition in not known. It is understood that he has been in detention for around 20 months.

NIDC has had the worst rates of self harm and attempted suicide across the whole detention regime.

The attempted suicide comes only a day after Serco tactical response group broke up a roof-top protest at NIDC. The four protesters taken off the roof are now in the high security isolation section of the detention centre.

It is also only a day since a suicide attempt in the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accomodation centre by a refugee in detention for almost three years.

“There is no excuse for the damage that long term detention is inflicting on asylum seekers and refugees. The Minister has stated that vulnerable asylum seekers would have priority to be released on bridging visas or community detention. But it is obvious that the Minister is prioritising mandatory detention which day by day is taking a terrible toll on the mental health of asylum seekers.

“The roof-top protesters were right to protest. It’s long past time for the Minister to release all those in NIDC,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

The Tamil refugee, who has a negative ASIO security finding went to his room after speaking with human rights officials this afternoon.

It is believed that he has taken a tablet overdose.

It is the [...]]]> A medical team is attending a Tamil refugee at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation centre in Broadmeadows this (Thursday) afternoon.

The Tamil refugee, who has a negative ASIO security finding went to his room after speaking with human rights officials this afternoon.

It is believed that he has taken a tablet overdose.

It is the man’s second suicide attempt in a little over a month.

The negative ASIO security finding condemns refugees to indefinite detention. The Tamil has been in detention for almost three years. There is no right to know what evidence ASIO relies on for the negative security finding and there is no right to review or appeal negative decisions.

“The mental health of many of the ASIO negative refugees has been seriously deteriorating in recent months,” said Ian Rintoul, from the Refugee Action Coalition.

“Having no appeal rights is such an obvious violation of natural justice – something that would completely unacceptable in the criminal justice system. Yet these refugees and their families are being given a life sentence with no opportunity to see the evidence against them and no opportunity to refute the evidence against them.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

The four, who started the protest on Wednesday afternoon, say they plan to stay on the roof until they get answers from the Immigration department.

The high security NIDC facility is notorious for its [...]]]> Four long-term Iranian asylum seekers are maintaining their roof top protest at Darwin’s most notorious detention, the Northern Immigration Detention Centre.

The four, who started the protest on Wednesday afternoon, say they plan to stay on the roof until they get answers from the Immigration department.

The high security NIDC facility is notorious for its toxic environment – producing one of the highest rates of self-harm and attempted suicide of any of the detention centres.

“The place is a jail,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition, “The immigration department has admitted that it is not a suitable place for asylum seekers, but efforts to move people away from the toxic environment seem to have stalled.”

But inside the detention centre, Serco and Immigration are maintaining their harassment and intimidation tactics. There are fears that two asylum seekers taken by Serco guards may be placed in North 3 – the punishment compound in NIDC or are being moved to punishment cells on Christmas Island.

On Thursday morning, Serco began more efforts to intimidate asylum seekers and prevent others joining the protest by conducting a room-to-room search. Over the Easter weekend, Serco management warned NIDC asylum seekers that any moves – even waving a hand – to support protests would result in their files being handed to the federal police and put an end to any hopes of the detainees being released on community detention.

“There is no excuse for Serco’s threats. Asylum seekers have a right to protest,” said Ian Rintoul.

“It is simply government bloody-mindedness that is keeping these asylum seekers in NIDC. They are suffering the mental health consequences of long term detention simply because the government does not have the political will to act.

“Some of the people have friends and relatives in the community willing to accommodate and support them, but still the government stalls. That Serco would punish asylum seekers for daring to protest against and indefinite detention is further proof that asylum seekers human rights are being abused in detention.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul mob 0417 275 713

The Refugee Rights Action Network will be holding a protest at Perth Detention Centre as part of a national day of action across Australia.

Refugee rights activists will be protesting in Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin and Brisbane — don’t miss [...]]]> Perth Immigration Detention Centre (Perth Domestic Airport), corner Baker and McComb streets, 2.30pm Monday 9th April.

The Refugee Rights Action Network will be holding a protest at Perth Detention Centre as part of a national day of action across Australia.

Refugee rights activists will be protesting in Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin and Brisbane — don’t miss the Perth leg, taking place at Perth’s very own refugee prison.

According to reports from inside the detention centre, asylum seekers in the NIDC were warned not to take part in any protest inside the detention centre. The threats were meant [...]]]> Refugee activists, part of the refugee convergence in Darwin have condemned the threats and intimidation of asylum seekers in the Northern Immigration Detention Centre (NIDC).

According to reports from inside the detention centre, asylum seekers in the NIDC were warned not to take part in any protest inside the detention centre. The threats were meant to prevent any response from the asylum seeker to the protests that have taken place outside the detention centre.

Around 200 Serco guards were posted inside NIDC although there are only around 100 asylum seekers and Indonesian asylum boat crew and fisher-folk.

Asylum seekers were told that any indication of protest — ‘even if you jump up or wave your hands’ — that their files would be sent to the Federal Police. They were also told that planned moves out of the detention would be indefinitely stalled if they took part in any protest activity.

NIDC has developed a deserved reputation as the worst of the detention centres as far as self harm and attempted suicide.

“The threats against asylum seekers is a further violation of asylum seekers’ human rights. It is no crime to claim asylum in Australia. It is no crime to protest against the inhumanity of mandatory detention. Serco and the Immigration Department keep a ‘cone of silence’ atound the detention centres,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

Despite the threats, asylum seekers did join in protest activity this (Sunday) afternoon, as protesters gathered on the Stuart Highway outside the detention centre.

The NIDC protest followed a successful action at the Wickham Point detention centre that saw 7 interstate protesters arrested for trespass after they scaled a hill overlooking the sprawling detention facility.

There are unconfirmed reports that some asylum seekers in the newly opened detention centre have staged a hunger strike in protest to the arrests of protesters and the cancellation of visits over the Easter weekend.

“Successful protests at all Darwin detention centres have made sure that the asylum seekers know there is a movement outside the fences that will continue to campaign to end mandatory detention and close the detention centres,” said Ian Rintoul.

Further protests will take place on Easter Monday at detention centres tomorrow in Darwin, Perth. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

For more information contact Ian Rintoul on 0417 275 713.

They were out at the remote site to show support to the 500 people locked up there for legally seeking asylum in Australia. The protest occurred the day [...]]]> Seven people from several Australian cities were arrested by Northern Territory police for trying to make contact with refugees inside the Wickham Point Detention Centre outside Darwin.

They were out at the remote site to show support to the 500 people locked up there for legally seeking asylum in Australia. The protest occurred the day after a refugee inside Wickham Point tried to commit suicide.

“This protest was meant to be a message to the Australian public and politicians that people are prepared to come out in these 40 degree conditions, and are prepared to challenge the police that defend a detention centre that locks up innocent people,” Jay Fletcher, spokesperson for the Easter refugee convergence said.

“Wickham Point is Australia’s newest and biggest detention centre, the government has built it to lock up 1500 people. But this site is considered ‘unfit for human habitation’ and locking up people in the middle of nowhere so no one can see them and help them.

“This system kills people, it has been killing people for 20 years.”

Police and private security had blocked the entrance to the centre when about 35 refugee supporters arrived. Last Thursday, representatives from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and private detention contractor Serco banned four refugee advocates from officially visiting the asylum seekers inside.

Mark Goudkamp, among the seven arrested, said: “The ‘approved site’ for our protest at Wickham Point was out of earshot and out of sight from the people we’d travelled across the country to support. Our simple attempt to reach an elevated point where we could interact with the asylum seekers, albeit still from a long distance, is clearly not what DIAC, Serco or the police want us to do.”

For more information, contact Jay Fletcher on 0438 819 131.

Photo by Nathan Bala.