Burmese Language
Burma refugee sets himself alight
A Burmese refugee being held in Australian immigration detention was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Monday after trying to set himself on fire, advocates said.
The immigration department confirmed only that a detainee was taken to hospital after a “small fire” at the Northern Immigration Detention Centre in Darwin about 2:30 am (1700 GMT Sunday).
“We are not speculating on the cause of the fire but the detainee had no injuries,” a spokeswoman told AFP.
“[They have] since been discharged and returned to the centre,” she said, adding that federal police were investigating the incident.
Advocates from the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre said the inmate was from Burma and had “set himself on fire last night in desperation” after eight months of uncertainty about his application.
The ASRC said the man had been granted refugee status but his visa was being held up by security checks.
“He was desperate to get out of detention because [he was] fearing for the lives of his children back home and [was] powerless to help them in detention,” the ASRC said on its Twitter feed.
“He was so fearful for his kids he previously asked to be sent home despite his own life being in danger so as to save his kids.”
The man had “begged to be released or returned or at least told when he would come out of detention” before setting himself alight, the ASRC said.
Public broadcaster ABC, citing sources inside the centre, also said the man was from Burma and had attempted to ignite himself.
Immigration officials would not comment on the detainee’s gender, nationality or the status of their application.
Tensions are high in Australia’s immigration centres after a record 6,500 refugees arrived by leaky fishing boat from Indonesia last year, stretching facilities to capacity. Most are from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Iraq.
Hunger strikes and protests have flared recently after a refugee boat smashed into rocks at remote Christmas Island, killing about 50 people, and Canberra announced a push to forcibly deport failed Afghan asylum claimants.
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Australia’s system of refugee detention must be ended. A plethora of reports demonstrate the damaging effects of detention on people who have already survived traumatic events.
Yes the asylum seekers have survived a traumatic experience in their lives, Australia as well as any country has the right to screen anyone who is seeking sanctuary in their country. No one can just have an open door policy to allow any person crossing their borders instant permanent residency in their country. You don’t know if any of these people are sick and have life threatening illness or perhaps they have committed crimes against humanity.
We must never forget that every Burmese refuge has been placed in their unfortunate circumstance because of Thitsaphout Than Shwe’s crimes against his own people. Every time there is an problem in the camps were ever they are it because of Than Shwe.
why must any Burmese be refugee. fault is with us. new government must help.
He is a Rohingya and have been detaining now in 14 months both in Christmas Island and NIDC. His matter was already informed to his manager since 3 months ago but no appreciation is done.
Such event would be recurred as the departments have lack acknowledgement on Rohingya plight and result crumbling of family.
Total Rohingyas left from arrivals in 2009 who are spending in 14 to 17 months are 16prs in NIDC 2prs in Meribyrnong, 4prs in Villawood and 1pr in Perth for intensive care.
The rest of arrivals in 2010 are 98 Rohingyas, 3 Myanmar Muslims and a Burma, are in Christmas Island and a Myanmar Muslim family consisting 4 memembers are in Leonaro of Perth.
There is none that one could harm to security of Australia in the future. But their detention is unlawful against intl Laws or Oz laws or Refugees laws.