Man dies at Sydney immigration centre

A Sri Lankan has man died at a Sydney immigration centre.

The Department of Immigration said the man was discovered in distress at his accommodation in the Sydney Immigration Residential Housing complex early on Wednesday.

An ambulance was called and CPR done but the man died shortly after midnight.

A department spokesman said police would investigate the circumstances of the man's death.

He expected it would also be subject to a coronial inquest.

The dead man's family are overseas and the department is seeking to inform them of the event.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the deceased man was a Sri Lankan Tamil in his mid-20s who was given refugee status about three months ago.

He had been in Australia for two years and had been in immigration detention at Villawood when three suicides occurred in 2010 within a four-month period.

The man has a younger brother in Sri Lanka.

Mr Rintoul said the dead man's bid to be released to attend a Hindu festival may have sparked his suicide.

"Whether that was the final straw, it's impossible to know," he told AAP. Advocates told the ABC the man poisoned himself, the network reports.

Refugee advocates are protesting against mandatory detention at the Department of Immigration's Sydney offices on Wednesday afternoon.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Mainlines Australia on 1300 78 99 78.

http://www.sbs.com.a...igration-centre

Edited October 25, 201114 yr by கந்தப்பு

இவர் தற்கொலை செய்திருக்கிறார் என்ற சோகச்செய்தி தற்பொழுது கிடைத்திருக்கிறது.

பரிதாப உயிரிழப்பு. பரிதவிக்கும் உறவுகளுக்கு ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்கள்.

உலகில் ஒவ்வொரு நாட்டு குடிமகனின் உயிருக்கும் அந்தந்த நாட்டு பண நாணயமாற்று வீதம் போன்று ஒரு பெறுமதி உண்டு.

நாடு இல்லாதவர்கள் நிலையோ பரிதாபம். அண்மையில் ஒரு இஸ்ரேல் நாட்டு வீரனுக்கு 1027 பாலஸ்தீனியர்கள் விடுவிக்கப்பட்டனர். தமிழின் உயிரின் விலையும், மிக மலிந்து விட்டது. நாம் எல்லோரும் ஒற்றுமையாக செயல்பட்டு இந்த அவல நிலையை மாற்றவேண்டும்.

_{Sri Lankan dies at Sydney immigration centre after receiving festival rejection letter}

_{Alicia Wood}

_{October 26, 2011 - 11:49AM}

_{The man was popular at Villawood Detention Centre. Photo: Jessica Hromas}

_{A Sri Lankan man has died in a Sydney immigration detention centre in an apparent suicide after being denied the opportunity to attend a religious festival.}

_{The Tamil man, who was in his mid-20s, was found in distress at the Sydney Immigration Residential Housing Complex, next to the Villawood Detention Centre, last night.}

_{Do you know more? Message 0424 SMS SMH (+61 424 767 764) oremail us with information.}

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_{A Department of Immigration spokesman said an ambulance went to the centre, but the man died.}

_{He said police would investigate and expected the death would be referred to the coroner.}

_{Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the man, who had been in Australia for two years, had been granted refugee status but was waiting for his security clearance.}

_{Mr Rintoul said the man was taken to hospital after taking poison, but died shortly afterwards.}

_{"Traumatically, he was one of the witnesses to the three suicides in Villawood in 2010," Mr Rintoul said.}

_{"He died about 3am today."}

_{The man was also one of the roof-top protesters following the suicides, and was well known in the detention centre.}

_{"He was a very outgoing guy; he was always willing to help everyone," Mr Rintoul said.}

_{Mr Rintoul said it was hard to know why the man took his life, but there was talk he was upset after being refused the chance to attend celebrations for the Hindu festival Diwali.}

_{"I do know he made an application to attend a Hindu festival and he got a letter rejecting the application yesterday," he said.}

_{"Whether that was the final straw, it's impossible to know," he said.}

_{"How many more lives will it take before the government acts to end mandatory detention?}

_{"How absolutely tragic, but how telling, that an accepted refugee could feel despair enough to take their own life in a detention centre."}

_{Greens immigration spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said she would ask the Minister for Immigration, Chris Bowen, to explain the circumstances of the man's death.}

_{"I will ask the minister if he was receiving counselling, and I want to know who was able to visit him and if there were any restrictions on that," Senator Hanson-Young said.}

_{She also questioned why the man was made to remain in detention when he had already passed an ASIO security check.}

_{The Immigration Department requires people who have been given legal refugee status to undergo two security clearances - one administered by ASIO that takes about 48 hours, and another that is administered by the department.}

_{"It is a pretty tragic case. He had already been in detention for over two years, and by anyone's definition that is far, far too long," Senator Hanson-Young said.}

_{She also questioned if the man's mental health was being looked after.}

_{Villawood does not have an in-house psychologist, and medical staff are at the centre only until 8pm.}

_{Former immigration minister Chris Evans said the man's death was "highly regrettable".}

_{Senator Evans, who served as immigration minister under the Rudd government, said the increased number of asylum-seeker arrivals was straining the system.}

_{"My sympathies go to the family," he said.}

_{"There's no doubt there are issues involved with detaining people, but equally Australia has a border control mechanism which is designed to say 'You can't come into the country without a visa.'"}

_{Senator Evans, who now holds the employment and workplace relations portfolio, said that, that while mandatory detention was needed for health and security checks, community detention was often a better option when it was possible.}

_{"There is a need for efficient processing," he said.}

_{"It's partly because the system has been under pressure due to the increased number of arrivals."}

_{* Support is available for anyone who may be distressed by calling Lifeline 131 114, Mensline 1300 789 978, Kids Helpline 1800 551 800.}

_{- with AAP}

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sri-lankan-dies-at-sydney-immigration-centre-after-receiving-festival-rejection-letter-20111026-1miox.html

Detainee death 'highly regrettable'

The death of a Sri Lankan refugee in Sydney's Villawood detention centre is "highly regrettable", former immigration minister Chris Evans says.

The Tamil man, who had already been granted refugee status, committed suicide in the western Sydney centre early on Wednesday, the Department of Immigration has confirmed.

It is believed he was awaiting a security clearance from ASIO.

Senator Evans, who served as immigration minister under the Rudd government, said the increased number of asylum-seeker arrivals was straining the system.

"Obviously, the death is highly regrettable and my sympathies go to the family," he told AAP on Wednesday.

"There's no doubt there are issues involved with detaining people, but equally Australia has a border control mechanism which is designed to say `You can't come into the country without a visa'."

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the man, who was known to his friends as Shooty, was taken to hospital after taking poison, but died shortly afterwards.

He said a number of approaches had been made to the Immigration Department to have Shooty released into community detention, but they had been unsuccessful.

The dead man's failed bid to be released to attend a Hindu festival may have sparked his suicide, Mr Rintoul said.

"Whether that was the final straw, it's impossible to know," he told AAP.

"How many more lives will it take before the government acts to end mandatory detention?

"How absolutely tragic, but how telling, that an accepted refugee could feel despair enough to take their own life in a detention centre."

Senator Evans, who now holds the employment and workplace relations portfolio, said that while mandatory detention was needed for health and security checks, community detention was often a better option where it was possible.

"There is a need for efficient processing," he said.

"It's partly because the system has been under pressure due to the increased number of arrivals."

The latest death at Villawood comes after three detainees committed suicide at the same complex in 2010.

A spokeswoman for the Immigration Department said there would be an investigation into the circumstances of the man's death, and would not comment further.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/10873378/man-dies-at-sydney-immigration-centre/

அவரை இழந்து வாடும் உறவினர்களுக்கு ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்கள், எத்தனை கனவுகளுடன் அவுஸ் மண்ணை மிதித்தார், இன்னும் கொஞ்ச நாள் மன உறுதியுடன் இருந்திருக்கலாம். அவசரத்தில் எடுக்கும் முடிவுகள்

எவ்வளவோ கஸ்டங்களை அனுபவித்து அவுஸ்திரேலிய மண்ணில் வந்து தனது உயிரை மாய்த்தது என்பது விவேகமான முடிவல்ல.அவரது குடும்பத்துக்கு ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்கள்.

அவருக்கு இங்கு வந்து 2 வருடங்கள். முள்ளிவாய்க்கால் அவலத்துக்கு பிறகு வந்தவர்.எத்தனையோ இழப்புக்கள், சோகங்கள். அகதி அந்தஸ்து கிடைத்தாலும் அவரால் வெளியே வரமுடியவில்லை. காரணம் இலங்கை அரசிடம் இருந்து இவரால் பிரச்சனை இல்லை என்ற கடிதம் இன்னும் வரவில்லை. பயங்கரவாதி என்றே சிறிலங்கா அரசு அவுஸ்திரெலியா அரசுக்கு சொல்லியிருக்கிறது. இவரால் அவுஸ்திரெலியா நாட்டுக்கு பிரச்சனை இல்லை என்று முடிவு செய்யப்படும் வரை முகாமில் இருக்கவேண்டும். .....

ASIO concern stopped man's release: Bowen

A Sri Lankan refugee who killed himself in Sydney's Villawood detention centre was not considered suitable for community placement by security agencies, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen says.

The Tamil man, who had been detained at the western Sydney centre since late March 2010, was deemed to be a refugee in August.

He was one of 462 people awaiting security clearance from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

Mr Bowen said the man's case was complex.

"There are cases, and this is one, which are more complex and which ASIO will need to take more time to consider whether this person would be a risk to national security," Mr Bowen told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

"There was consultation with the relevant security agencies, that's ASIO, and the advice was it was not appropriate in this case."

Department of Immigration officials were trying to contact the dead man's brother in Sri Lanka, but so far had not had success, he said.

Mr Bowen declined to say if the man had poisoned himself, saying the matter was subject to a coronial inquest.

But he did confirm that the man had sought leave to attend a Hindu festival, which was to be held at Villawood on Wednesday, but the request had been knocked back.

"I understand the individual did request to leave the facility to visit a friend ... and it was not approved," Mr Bowen said.

Three people died at the Villawood centre in 2010, and the dead man had been a resident at the time of some of those deaths.

Mr Bowen said the Department of Immigration was prepared for more possible riots at Villawood in light of the latest death.

"Certainly, experience does show us that when you have an incident like this, a tragic incident, it does and can lead to increased tension," he said.

"Obviously we're taking whatever steps we can to ensure that the situation is handled appropriately.

"I'm not going to speculate on what may or may not happen, but obviously when you have an event like this, it's disturbing and upsetting for all involved."

The man who killed himself had been housed in residential housing adjacent to the main Villawood detention centre which accommodates families and vulnerable people.

Mr Bowen denied the immigration system was in crisis, but he said detention facilities were under pressure.

He said Villawood was being rebuilt to improve security.

"It's not an ideal centre in terms of the way it was constructed and of course it's being substantially reconstructed," Mr Bowen said.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/10873378/man-dies-at-sydney-immigration-centre/

ஆழந்த அநுதாபங்கள்.

நான் சில வேளைகளில் இவர்களைப் பார்ப்பதற்காகச் சில சமூக ஆர்வலர்களுடன்,சாப்பாடு சமைத்துக் கொண்டு போவதுண்டு! இவரை நன்றாக நினைவிருக்கின்றது! அவுஸ்திரேலிய புலனாய்வுத் துறையின் அறிக்கைக்காகக் காத்திருப்பதாகக் கூறினார்! அரைவாசிக்கு மேலானோர், இவ்வாறு தான் உள்ளனர்!

தவிர்த்திருக்கக் கூடிய மரணம்! நினைத்துப் பார்க்க மிகவும் கவலையாக உள்ளது!!!

இவரது குடும்பத்திற்கு, ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்கள்!!!

Refugee advocates slam mandatory detention after suicide at Villawood

FURIOUS refugee groups have questioned how long the federal government will continue mandatory detention after the suicide of another refugee at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul today slammed the government following the death this morning of the Tamil refugee known as Shooty to his friends.

The Immigration Department has confirmed the man was taken to hospital earlier today but died.

Citing poisoning as a possible cause of death, Mr Rintoul said a number of approaches had been made to DIAC to have Shooty released into community detention, but they had been unsuccessful.

He said the man's failed bid to be released to attend a Hindu festival may have sparked his suicide.

"How many more lives will it take before the government acts to end mandatory detention?” he said.

"How absolutely tragic, but how telling, that an accepted refugee could feel despair enough to take their own life in a detention centre.''

Shooty had been had been in detention for just over two years and had recently been moved to the family compound at Villawood.

He had been accepted as a refugee about seven months ago, but was waiting for an ASIO security assessment, RAC said.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young expressed her sympathy for the Sri Lankan man, saying she was thinking of his friends and family.

"This latest suicide is a tragedy and a reminder of the damage long-term detention causes people whose mental states are already delicate,'' she said.

"His desperate act, plus the harsh conditions in detention centres as exposed by Four Corners on Monday night, show why Australia should immediately end its cruel policy of indefinite and mandatory detention.''

The latest death at Villawood comes after three detainees committed suicide at the same complex in 2010.

A spokeswoman for the Immigration Department said there would be an investigation into the circumstances of the man's death, and would not comment further.

Senator Chris Evans, a former immigration minister, earlier said that while mandatory detention was needed for health and security checks, community detention was often a better option where it was possible.

"There is a need for efficient processing,'' he said.

"It's partly because the system has been under pressure due to the increased number of arrivals.''

Mr Bowen defended the time taken to assess asylum claims, saying the government had been releasing increasing amounts of detainees into the community.

He said the man had been waiting in detention for two years, had his refugee application approved in August but was still awaiting a security clearance from ASIO.

"Obviously, any death, at any time, is a tragedy and our thoughts and condolences are with his family and friends today," he said.

"There is a police investigation and there will no doubt be a Coronial inquiry. The Department of Immigration will fully cooperate of course with any investigation that occurs."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/sri-lankan-detainee-death-highly-regrettable-says-chris-evans/story-e6freuy9-1226177202963

அவரது குடும்பத்துக்கு ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்கள்.

Refugee suicide blamed on 'rotten system'

The suicide of a young Sri Lankan man in Sydney's Villawood detention centre could have been avoided by a move to processing refugees in the community, a refugee advocate says.

"This event is absolutely tragic, but unfortunately it is not surprising," Refugee Action Coalition campaigner Jemima Mowbray said on Wednesday.

Ms Mowbray said the death of the man, who friends say was 27, could have been avoided.

"We're calling on the government to shutdetention centres and start community processing now," she said.

Ms Mowbray said the man had been locked up for over two years, despite having been recognised as a refugee.

Suicide Prevention Australia chair Dr Michael Dudley said six refugees had committed suicide in detention centres since September last year. Four of those deaths occurred in Villawood.

Dr Dudley said it was clear refugees were suffering in detention centres and Australia's system of mandatory detention had to stop.

"This system disables people, it excludes and vilifies people and it kills people," he said.

"We know that people who remain in immigration detention for long periods become mentally ill, and this is irrespective of their previous status.

"Of course they're vulnerable, but their detention experience compounds this," he said.

Dr Dudley said the government's use of mandatory detention was not working.

"How many more deaths are we going to need before our political leaders stop spouting about offshore processing and deterrence of boat people, and turn their minds to putting an end to this rotten system?" Dr Dudley said.

Former Iranian detainee Iraj Maghadam said the man had been one of his best friends.

Iraj said he first met him at Christmas Island detention centre and the two men were later transferred to Villawood.

He remembered his friend as a happy young man who loved music and dancing.

"I'm so angry he's dead," Mr Maghadam told AAP.

"My heart is broken. I plead for the detention centres to close," he said.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8365731

அவரது நண்பனின் பேட்டி இணைப்பு.....

http://akkinikkunchu.com/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2965:2011-10-26-06-28-29&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=18

நான் சில வேளைகளில் இவர்களைப் பார்ப்பதற்காகச் சில சமூக ஆர்வலர்களுடன்,சாப்பாடு சமைத்துக் கொண்டு போவதுண்டு! இவரை நன்றாக நினைவிருக்கின்றது! அவுஸ்திரேலிய புலனாய்வுத் துறையின் அறிக்கைக்காகக் காத்திருப்பதாகக் கூறினார்! அரைவாசிக்கு மேலானோர், இவ்வாறு தான் உள்ளனர்!

தவிர்த்திருக்கக் கூடிய மரணம்! நினைத்துப் பார்க்க மிகவும் கவலையாக உள்ளது!!!

இவரது குடும்பத்திற்கு, ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்கள்!!!

நன்றி புங்கையூரான். இப்படியான எம்மவர்களை சென்று பார்ப்பது என்பது கூட மிகவும் தேவையான போற்றப்படக்கூடிய செயல். நன்றிகள்.

மிகவும் வேதனையான நிகழ்வு. அவுஸ்திரேலியா அரசாங்கம் இவ்வளவு கெடுபிடியாக இருக்குமென்று எதிர்பார்க்கவில்லை. அகதி அந்தஸ்த்து கிடைத்தவரை வெளியே விட்டிருக்கலாம்.

அவரது குடும்பத்துக்கு ஆழ்ந்த அனுதாபங்கள்.

Australian authorities have send a delegation to Srilanka to find a solution to the boat people issue. Aus has paid a lot of money to SL on this. Both are working on a plan. The new stand of Aus PM on Srilankan war crimes is based on this friendship.

The message from AUS to SL simple, "Do what ever you want to keep the boats at your bay, we are not worried about your human rights violations".

சமாதான காலத்தில் ஆஸ்திரேலியாவுக்கு போகும் தமிழ் அகதிகளை அமெரிக்காவும் அமெரிக்கா போகும் சில தெனமெரிக்க அகதிகளை ஆஸ்திரேலியாவும் பரிமாற்றம் செய்ய உடன் பட்டார்கள். பின் அமெரிக்க முன்வந்து அதை நடைமுறைப்படுத்தவில்லை. யார் குளபியவர்கள் என்பது தெரியாது.

Edited October 26, 201114 yr by மல்லையூரான்

மன்னித்துவிடு சகோதரா காப்பாற்றும் வல்லமை அற்றவர்களாக தலை குனிகிறோம்

ஆஸ்திரேலியாவில் அண்டார்டிக்கா தொங்குது பிக்காரி பயலுக.. வேறநாடே கெடைக்கல.. கொலம்பஸ் தடுத்துட்டார் பாருங்க...

டிஸ்கி:

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<p>Refugee's death sparks fresh debate

The death of a refugee at Sydney's Villawood centre has sparked fresh debate about Australia's asylum seeker policy.

The Tamil man was discovered in a distressed condition at the residential complex adjacent to the main centre, where families and vulnerable individuals are kept, early on Wednesday.

He died shortly after midnight.

The man had been detained at the western Sydney centre since late March 2010 and was described by a friend as being 27.

He had gained refugee status in August but was awaiting security clearance for placement in the community.

Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said the man was one of 462 people awaiting security clearance from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

He was not considered suitable for community placement, Mr Bowen said.

"There was consultation with the relevant security agencies, that's ASIO, and the advice was it was not appropriate in this case," he told reporters in Sydney.

Refugee advocates said the man's death could have been avoided if he had been processed in the community.

"This event is absolutely tragic but unfortunately it is not surprising," Refugee Action Coalition campaigner Jemima Mowbray said on Wednesday.

"We're calling on the government to shut detention centres and start community processing now."

A friend of the man said he had overdosed on sleeping pills but Mr Bowen declined to comment, saying the matter was subject to a coronial inquest.

However, the minister confirmed that the man had sought leave to attend a Hindu festival, which was to be held at Villawood on Wednesday, but the request had been knocked back.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said the man's bid to attend the festival might have sparked his suicide.

"Whether that was the final straw, it's impossible to know," he told AAP.

Greens immigration spokeswoman Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the death was a tragedy and repeated the party's call for an end to mandatory detention.

"His desperate act, plus the harsh conditions in detention centres as exposed by Four Corners (on ABC television) on Monday night, show why Australia should immediately end its cruel policy of indefinite and mandatory detention," she said.

Suicide Prevention Australia chair Dr Michael Dudley said six refugees had committed suicide in detention centres since September last year. Four of those deaths occurred in Villawood.

Dr Dudley said it was clear refugees were suffering in detention centres and Australia's system of mandatory detention had to stop.

"This system disables people, it excludes and vilifies people and it kills people," he said.

Former Iranian detainee Iraj Maghadam said the man had been one of his best friends.

Iraj said he first met him at Christmas Island detention centre and the two men had later been transferred to Villawood.

He remembered his friend as a happy young man who loved music and dancing and who was looking forward to marrying his fiancee on his release from detention.

"I'm so angry he's dead," Mr Maghadam told AAP.

"My heart is broken. I plead for the detention centres to close."

A Department of Immigration spokesman said police would investigate the circumstances of the man's death.

Department officials were trying to contact the dead man's brother in Sri Lanka, but so far had not had success, Mr Bowen said.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78 or Multicultural Mental Health Australia at www.mmha.org.au.

http://news.smh.com....1026-1mimz.html

Edited October 26, 201114 yr by கந்தப்பு

- ஒரு இணையத்தளத்தை ஆரம்பித்து இல்லை நமக்குள் ஒரு அமைப்பை முடிந்தால் உருவாக்கி இலங்கை தவிர்த்து இப்படி எங்கெங்கு எவ்வளவு தமிழர்கள் சிறைகளில் / தடுப்பு முகாம்களில் உள்ளனர் என்ற விபரம் வெளிப்படுத்தப்படல் வேண்டும். தமது உறவுகள் எங்கு உள்ளார்கள் என்பதையும் தெரிந்தவர்கள் பதிவிடலாம்.

- அவர்கள் என்ன காரணத்திற்காக அங்கு உள்ளார்கள் என்ற விபரம் வெளியிடப்படலாம்.

- என்ன உதவி அவர்களுக்கு தேவை என்பதையும் எவ்வாறு அவர்களை வெளியில் / சுதந்திரமாக நடமாட உதவலாம் என்ற விபரமும் தெரியப்படுத்தப்படலாம்.

- முடிந்தவர்கள் உதவி செய்யலாம்.

Edited October 26, 201114 yr by akootha

எனக்கு பிடிக்காத விசயம் அகதி.. ஜாபர் சேட்டு ஆயிரம் கொடுமை செய்வான் என்று அங்கிட்டு போககூடாது.. வெளிநாட்டில் வெத்தலை தாம்பூலம் வைத்தா வரவேற்பார்கள் ?>? ஐடோண்டு லைக்திஸ்..