A Kurdish refugee in his mid-30s attempted suicide at approximately
6.00am at the Melbourne Immigration Transit accomofdation centre. He
was unsuccessful as he was stopped by his friends and SERCO guards.
Fearing for his mental health, SERCO and police officers sent him to
a hospital at approximately 6.30am.
This attempted suicide is the result of SERCO and immigration
detention policies leaving him in limbo. He has been in detention for
14 months and was given refugee status after 7 months.
He remains detained after Serco branded him a "person of interest".
After a fight between himself and other refugees he was told that his
case was pending police investigation. Yet according to his friends he
has never been called into a police interview or court.
After receiving refugee status he spent 5 months in Curtin detention
centre before being transferred to Melbourne Immigration Transit
Accomodation. This is at least the third known attempted suicide
within MITA detention centre in the last 5 monthts.
The incident highlights the plight of many refugees regarded as
'persons of interest' who are effectively indefinetely detained even
though they have not been interviewed, charged or are evn being
investigated for possible charges. It is an absolute abuse of natural
justice.
Serco and the immigration department are acting as judge, and jury and
executioner in such cases.
Mandatory detention is keeping refugees in limbo, with associated
mental health issues driving them to self-harm and suicide.
There needs to be immediate investigation into why the Australian
Federal Police, SERCO, and the Immigration Department are keeping
refugees in limbo indefinitely.
The policy of mandatory detention is inherently flawed and there is no
reason why refugees such as Mr F should be indefinitely detained
without charge or trial and driven to suicide.
Refugee Action Collective Victoria Press Release 7th August