R.I.S.E. Press Relase 8th July: Concern over suicide attempts at Darwin Detention Centre

RISE is deeply concerned at the reported epidemic of attempted suicides which have taken place at Darwin Detention Centre this week.

The lack of transparency and openness between the detainees and the Australian Government is causing severe mental anguish for the detainees. They feel they are no longer able to cope and that their pleas are continuing to fall on deaf ears.

Ramesh Fernandez CEO and Founder of Rise posed the following question;

“Ask yourself, how bad must the situation be that you would rather take your own life than to continue to remain within in the detention centre.”

Some detainees have lost over 18 months of their life behind the walls of Darwin detention centre. There is no excuse for these extreme delays in processing asylum seeker claims.

Prolonged detention is an inhumane policy and has serve consequences for an individual’s wellbeing. It has been reported that five refugees have sewn their lips shut. This indicates that these asylum seekers feel that they have no other option but to resort to drastic measures for their cases to be heard. Their sense of powerlessness and the uncertainty of their situation is having crippling effects on their mental state.

Asylum Seekers in Darwin Detention Centre feel that protesting is their only means left to gain the attention of the public domain and the Australian Government to assist in their plight.

Asylum Seekers have already endured physical and psychological trauma on their journey to Australia. Many individuals who embarked on this journey did so out of sheer desperation fleeing conflict and persecution. Their hope was that the Australian Government would offer a safe haven and an opportunity to rebuild their lives for themselves and their family. Instead they remain trapped behind the walls of Darwin Detention Centre with little or no hope remaining.

Mr.Fernandez stated that,

“Australia is obliged to provide protection for those who seek asylum but instead holds them in detention for prolonged periods of time. It is time for the Government to honestly discuss these inhumane policies and solve the existing problems they created.

RISE Media Unit
Refugee Survivors and Ex-detainees
247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria 3000.
Donate http://www.givenow.com.au/riserefugee
T:(03)9639 8623|M:0430 007 586|F:(03)9650 3689|Email:www.riserefugee.org/

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