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Tamil refugee tried to hang himself in detention, asylum advocates say Tamil refugee tried to hang himself in detention, asylum advocates say
(about 20 hours later)
A Tamil refugee who won a landmark high court case that led to the review of adverse Asio security assessments tried to hang himself in a Melbourne detention centre on Monday, according to refugee advocates and friends of the detainee.A Tamil refugee who won a landmark high court case that led to the review of adverse Asio security assessments tried to hang himself in a Melbourne detention centre on Monday, according to refugee advocates and friends of the detainee.
The 37-year-old man, held at Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation centre in Victoria, is said to have attempted suicide on Monday evening.The 37-year-old man, held at Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation centre in Victoria, is said to have attempted suicide on Monday evening.
A friend of the refugee, who visits the detention centre every week and spoke to him earlier on Tuesday, told Guardian Australia he had been found by another detainee who stopped the suicide attempt.A friend of the refugee, who visits the detention centre every week and spoke to him earlier on Tuesday, told Guardian Australia he had been found by another detainee who stopped the suicide attempt.
The friend asked the refugee why he had tried to kill himself to which he responded in English: “I have no hope, no hope tomorrow, no hope next week, no hope next year.” The friend said the refugee had declined any subsequent medical help.The friend asked the refugee why he had tried to kill himself to which he responded in English: “I have no hope, no hope tomorrow, no hope next week, no hope next year.” The friend said the refugee had declined any subsequent medical help.
The refugee won his case in the high court in October 2012, which found that a regulation declaring all non-citizens with adverse Asio security assessments could not be given a protection visa was invalid.The refugee won his case in the high court in October 2012, which found that a regulation declaring all non-citizens with adverse Asio security assessments could not be given a protection visa was invalid.
The decision led to the previous Labor government establishing a review process for Asio assessments led by the retired judge Margaret Stone.The decision led to the previous Labor government establishing a review process for Asio assessments led by the retired judge Margaret Stone.
The refugee, who has a wife and child in Sri Lanka and is known as M47 in the high court decision, has remained in detention since his arrival in Australia four years ago.The refugee, who has a wife and child in Sri Lanka and is known as M47 in the high court decision, has remained in detention since his arrival in Australia four years ago.
Aran Mylvaganam, of the Tamil refugee council in Victoria, who is in regular contact with M47, said he had been making suicide threats "for the past couple of weeks".
Stephen Blanks, the secretary of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, on Tuesday called for the refugee to be released.Stephen Blanks, the secretary of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, on Tuesday called for the refugee to be released.
"What's extraordinary is that both major political parties see nothing wrong with imprisoning people without trial just because Asio thinks they may be some kind of threat to national security,” he said."What's extraordinary is that both major political parties see nothing wrong with imprisoning people without trial just because Asio thinks they may be some kind of threat to national security,” he said.
“It's a fundamental principle of a free society that people are not imprisoned on national security grounds."“It's a fundamental principle of a free society that people are not imprisoned on national security grounds."
The minister for immigration and border protection, Scott Morrison, has said he will scrap any reviews of Asio security assessments.The minister for immigration and border protection, Scott Morrison, has said he will scrap any reviews of Asio security assessments.
But a number of the decisions subject to review by Justice Stone have since been overturned and several detainees have been released into the community.But a number of the decisions subject to review by Justice Stone have since been overturned and several detainees have been released into the community.
"What the Stone review has shown is that there are cases concerning refugees where the Asio conclusions were not justified,” Blanks said. “Australians have the right to have adverse security assessments reviewed in a tribunal. There is no good reason for not giving the same right to refugees.""What the Stone review has shown is that there are cases concerning refugees where the Asio conclusions were not justified,” Blanks said. “Australians have the right to have adverse security assessments reviewed in a tribunal. There is no good reason for not giving the same right to refugees."
The ruling in M47’s case also found that the refugee had not been denied procedural fairness as a result of the Asio investigation.The ruling in M47’s case also found that the refugee had not been denied procedural fairness as a result of the Asio investigation.
The UN human rights committee recently found that Australia's indefinite detention of detainees with adverse security assessments was "cruel, inhuman and degrading".The UN human rights committee recently found that Australia's indefinite detention of detainees with adverse security assessments was "cruel, inhuman and degrading".
Guardian Australia contacted the minister for immigration and border protection’s office for comment, but did not receive a reply.Guardian Australia contacted the minister for immigration and border protection’s office for comment, but did not receive a reply.
On Friday, Morrison said he would not comment on incidents of self-harm in the immigration detention system as they were an “operational matter”.On Friday, Morrison said he would not comment on incidents of self-harm in the immigration detention system as they were an “operational matter”.
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