By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
THE attempted self-immolation of a Noble Park man who has been seeking asylum for two years has raised concerns about the mental welfare of Greater Dandenong’s asylum seeker community.
The 40-year-old Tamil asylum seeker was saved by quick-thinking housemates after setting himself alight with petrol on 20 June.
Last week he was transferred to Monash Medical Centre’s psychiatric unit.
Friends of the man said he had fled Sri Lanka after having his legs broken by security police.
He had left behind his wife and daughter.
This month he had learned that his imprisoned brother in Sri Lanka had “disappeared”, believed to have been murdered.
Last Monday, a minor – on an unknown immigration visa – harmed himself in Dandenong police holding cells after being charged with aggravated burglary.
The minor’s lawyer told Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in a bail hearing on Monday that the minor had “significant custody management issues” including schizophrenia and “significant risk of self-harm”.
“I request he sees a doctor as soon as possible.”
The Department of Immigration had ordered the minor’s removal from the community and into detention if he was released on bail, the lawyer said.
The department later told the Journal it was inappropriate to give details on the accused due to “privacy and legal issues”.
Dandenong’s Aran Mylvaganam, who leads the Tamil Refugee Council, said three recent self-immolation attempts by Tamil asylum seekers in Australia – including the death of a Geelong man last month – was “nothing uncommon”.
He said, in many more unreported cases, people were trying to take their lives by overdoses or hanging.
“There are a large number of Tamil asylum seekers and refugees whose state of mind is quite bad.”
He said Tamil asylum seekers were shaken by Immigration and Border Protection Minister Scott Morrison’s pronouncement to send Sri Lankan asylum seekers “back to Sri Lanka”.
He said about 1800 have been deported in the past two years.
“It doesn’t matter what we say to them because the Australian government say they will be deported.
“When given the option of going back to Sri Lanka and the torture they face, they choose to die in Australia instead.”
Friends of Refugees member Sri Samy, who had been in close contact with the attempted self-immolated man, said on Tuesday that seven Tamil asylum seekers in recent weeks had told her of their intent to self-immolate if sent home.
Ms Samy told of a bright, intelligent man in his 20s whose mental health disintegrated alarmingly.
After failing to return her calls, she found him at home rolled up in the fetal position.
He accused her of being an immigration official.
“He said take me back to the detention centre. I’m scared to open the door, I’m scared to open letters.”
She said supporters had fought to keep the attempted self-immolated man in psychiatric care, rather than have him sent back to his house.
“I believe if it wasn’t for us he wouldn’t be alive now.”
A spokeswoman for Mr Morrison said asylum seekers in the community were given financial assistance and casework services under a government scheme.
“A fundamental part of Australia’s immigration system is that people found not to engage Australia’s protection obligations and who have no lawful basis to remain in Australia are expected to return to their country of origin. This includes Sri Lankan nationals.
“People are only removed where they either make no refugee claim or their refugee claim has failed and they have exhausted or chosen not to pursue further avenues of appeals.”
This month, Greater Dandenong council endorsed a call for the Federal government to change its asylum seeker policy.
Councillor Roz Blades, representing the council, approved a joint statement with other Victorian councils to demand the end of off-shore processing and temporary protection visas, and to grant work rights to asylum seekers.
Greater Dandenong has the highest number of refugees and asylum seekers living in Victoria.
