The recent release of around 19 asylum seekers on community detention has done nothing to ease tensions at the Darwin detention centre.

In the last two days, four people in the main detention centre have attempted suicide by hanging and overdose.

Another Kurdish man was taken from Airport Lodge to Northern Immigration Detention Centre (NIDC) after placing six stitches in his lips two days ago. He has been in detention a year, was found to be a refugee nine months ago, but is still waiting for security clearance.

Yet, another man has dug a grave in the yard of N1 compound and is lying in it. Nursing staff and Serco officers have been appealing for him to end his protest and return to his room, but so far to no avail.

According to some of the asylum seekers inside the detention centre, the arbitrary nature of the recent release has also added to the tensions. One of those given community detention was someone who received a negative appeal decision only 10 days ago, while other long term detainees some waiting months for appeal decisions or just a long for court hearings are being ignored.

They are also concerned that immigration is not living up to its promises. After being told that at least 30 people would be released by the end of January, twenty-seven names were put forward. But eight people put forward for release have been left behind.

“We were told that there would be thirty released in January and then more and more after that, but case managers are saying they know nothing about any more getting out,” one NIDC asylum seeker told the Refugee Action Coalition.

New arrivals to the NIDC have been shocked by the fact that some people have been in detention for two years and have received three negative decisions.

“There is no rhyme nor reason to the Immigration department’s arrangements to release people. Nobody knows the rules and nobody can explain who is eligible and why some people are released and others left behind. That stress is seriously compounding the mental toll of mandatory detention. People are left thinking they will never get out.

“The delays on ASIO security clearances are beyond a joke. There are two Afghan asylum seekers in Pontville waiting over 10 months for their security clearances. There is no reason for that. Bloody-minded bureaucratic delays are driving people to attempt suicide.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul mob             0417 275 713

Asylum seekers supporters are shocked and saddened at the announcement that an Iranian asylum seeker has died in Liverpool hospital in the early hours of Monday morning, 27 February.

It is understood that the man, just 45 years old, suffered a heart attack at the detention centre on Saturday morning and was admitted to hospital.

His wife and two children are believed to still be in Iran.

“This is an absolute tragedy, made worse by the fact that he should never have been in Villawood detention centre,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.

“The government knows that it cannot send Iranian asylum seekers back to Iran and yet they are kept locked up in detention. He arrived in Sydney by plane in April 2010.

“He was a member of Iranian opposition group, involved in the uprisings against the Iranian regime in 2009. He was arrested and jailed. He was a victim of the Iranian regime and now he is a victim of mandatory detention.

“The Iranian community in Sydney had made numerous requests for him to be released into the community, where they could support him. But they had been ignored. Psychiatric reports recommending his release were also been ignored.

“The government has no excuse for keeping Iranian asylum seekers in detention. We call on the government to end the misery of those in detention. The Minister has said that the government would release asylum seekers into community detention or with bridging visas.

“But little is happening particularly for those in long term detention. All the Iranian and stateless asylum seekers, Bidoons and Faili Kurds should be released immediately. We don’t want Ali’s death to be just another statistic of those who have so needlessly died in detention.”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul on 0417 275 713.

The Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network has been informed that an Iranian man attempted suicide today at the Northern Immigration Detention Centre (NIDC). The man has been detained in the infamous North 2 punishment compound for two weeks. After self harming during the day, the man climbed onto the roof of North 2 made a noose out of a sheet and was stopped just before jumping from the roof.

The man has been on a number of hunger strikes in detention and has asked to be removed from Australia as a result of the effects of detention on his mental health. A number of men inside the North 2 punishment compound have been detained in there for six months.

DASSAN spokesperson, Fernanda Dalstrom stated “the latest suicide attempt in a Darwin detention centre highlights the effects of mandatory detention on asylum seekers. The North 2 compound on NIDC is a living hell for those inside and an urgent review needs to be undertaken in relation to its use by the private corporation that operates NIDC – Serco. The compound has seen a large number of suicide attempts and self harm incidents over recent months.”

“Today Amnesty International described NIDC as not being appropriate for detaining asylum seekers. This latest suicide attempt is further proof of that. If the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship does not act soon to close NIDC there will be a death inside there.”

DASSAN has been informed the man is being provided with medical treatment.

For media comment – Fernanda Dalstrom, DASSAN: 0415 184 856.

ANOTHER ASYLUM SEEKER ATTEMPTS SUICIDE AT DARWIN’S AIRPORT LODGE

A Tamil asylum seeker has been taken to hospital after attempting suicide by hanging in the early of hours of this morning, at the Darwin Airport Lodge detention facility.

Around 12.30 am this (Thursday) morning, the man who has been in detention for 27 months, was found by fellow asylum seekers hanging by a bed-sheet noose in a secluded part of the facility.

Serco guards seemed not to be carrying the special Hoffman knives used to cut the nooses. He was still breathing when his fellow asylum seekers finally managed to get him down and untie the noose, but detainees were distressed about the time it took to get him down.

The man was one of two Tamils in the Airport Lodge who been granted a bridging visa to be released about three weeks ago. But the day before he was due to be released, he was told that his visa had been cancelled on security grounds.

It is not clear, at this stage, if this referred to his bridging visa being cancelled or his substantive protection visa.

“This man is another victim of mandatory detention and the mis-management of the bridging visa release system. To snatch away the offer of a bridging visa in these circumstances amounts to institutional cruelty,” said Refugee Action Coalition spokesperson, Ian Rintoul.

“The arbitrary decisions about who and who is not being released is significantly adding to the mental anguish of asylum seekers. His friend had tried to hang himself, around four months ago, and now he is left in detention limbo. What possible reason is there for him to be in detention for 27 months?”

For more information contact Ian Rintoul on 0417 275 713

As tensions once again rise at MITA (Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation) in Broadmeadows, an Iranian man, aged 28, stitched his lips up this morning (Monday) as a sign of desperation. He has been detained for 11 months.

His friend told Serco and medical staff that he was concerned about his friend and warned them. Serco responded after the incident which was too late. Now they are checking up on him every 30mins. This news comes as updated department figures are released showing 4783 including 528 children are still detained.

“We are concerned that this man is not drinking water. It is absolutely appalling that we are locking innocent people up to the point that they would do this to themselves. Our refugee policy is rotten to the core and must be dismantled immediately. Anything short of that is just inhumane,” Daniella Olea, Refugee Action Collective member and regular visitor.

The lip-stiching follows a hunger strike, of up to six detainees, a few weeks ago where one man was found lying by a fence refusing to move.

The battle for refugee rights needs to be extended on university campus’ to educate people and get more students involved. If you’re interested in getting involved in Murdoch RRAN campus work contact Sarah: 0416 799 803