Lankan self-harms as deportation looms

31 October 2012 02:29 am - 6 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A Tamil man set to be deported from Australia today has attempted to take his own life.

Up to 50 protesters have gathered outside the Maribyrnong detention centre in Melbourne's west in a bid to block Immigration authorities from sending the 42-year-old back to Sri Lanka.

The man was given his marching orders this month after failing in his bid for asylum.

A last minute bid for a court injunction last night to stop the deportation also failed.

The man, who arrived in Australia in February 2010, claimed his brother was a separatist Tamil Tiger fighter, killed in the bloody decades-long campaign for independence in Sri Lanka.

Early this morning an ambulance was called to the detention centre after the man attempted to take his life.
A spokesman for the Immigration department confirmed an act of self-harm had occurred and the man had been treated on site. He remains in the detention centre.

''These sort of activities don't affect the outcome of the person's protection claim,'' the spokesman said.

Tamil community advocate Aran Mylvaganam, who is among the protesters outside the centre, said he received a call at 5.15am from another detainee inside the centre alerting him to the man's plight.

''I don't know whether his aim was to hurt himself enough to stop them taking him away or whether he was trying to end his life,'' Mr Mylvaganam said.

The department spokesman said the wounds were not serious.

The case follows the deportation of Tamil man Dayan Anthony in July, who was returned to Sri Lanka by Australian immigration authorities despite a last minute appeal to the United Nations. (SMH)

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Comments - 6

Thushara Wednesday, 31 October 2012 12:00 AM

Good drama. via DM Android App

test Wednesday, 31 October 2012 04:14 AM

test

Yohan Perera Wednesday, 31 October 2012 04:14 AM

Mylvaganam,

Your first assumption is correct. If he wants to commit suicide he could have done it here in Sri Lanka. Secondly you are in Australia. Not Sri Lanka. The government of Australia is not afraid of demonstrations. Therefore stop wasting your time. Thirdly you people are known for causing trouble in the very soils that gave you a shelter when your own mother land rejected you. Be careful. Unlike the leaders in Sri Lanka the government of Australia wouldn't wait for 30 years to crush any foreign threats that pause a risk to its national security. It will be a matter of time till your citizenship is cancelled and kicked out from the paradise.

nicky karunarathna Wednesday, 31 October 2012 04:18 AM

For a Tamil it is not a difficult thing nor afraid of doing it anywhere, anytime and everytime once they are cornered for truth. They are, Tamils whom been brainedwashed and also trained as suicide cadres in hundreds by the ruthless inhumane LTTE and their revered leader been worshiped as diety. So nothing to surprise of or bewildered about as it is for them business as usual or norm!

mohamed asfar Wednesday, 31 October 2012 05:03 AM

economic refugees who betray their motherland.

nation watch Thursday, 01 November 2012 01:57 AM

He would rather die than return to Sri Lanka. Miracle of Asia!:-)

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Lankan self-harms as deportation looms

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