Detention disgrace

"You can't keep someone locked up for two years behind an electrified fence and tell them they're free. All he wanted was one day of freedom – one day – and they wouldn't give it to him. Well now he's free." - A close friend of a refugee named Shooty spoke these words to us after Shooty died in immigration detention at 3am Wednesday.

Yesterday news broke of yet another life lost in our detention system. A young Sri Lankan man took his own life after nearly two years of detention inside Villawood -- despite being granted refugee status (but not release) earlier this year.

It was supposed to be a day of celebration. Only a few weeks ago he had asked to spend this Wednesday at his friend’s nearby home, celebrating the Hindu holy day of Diwali, "the festival of lights." Yet, despite no objections from Serco (the private security firm running Villawood) and the fact that four guards were set to accompany him, the Department of Immigration refused his request – claiming it wasn’t a "compassionate or compelling reason" for a day's release from Villawood.

Who stands accountable when a man is locked away for seeking asylum, refused even a day's respite after nearly 730 days of captivity and finally takes his own life in despair? Tell our government enough -- end this disgrace.

http://www.getup.org.au/detention-disgrace

While yesterday's observance of Diwali was meant to be a "celebration of the victory of good over evil and the uplifting of spiritual darkness," unfortunately the long-term detention that Shooty suffered broke his spirit. Sadly, a friend yesterday described Shooty as "one of the strongest" in detention and "the last person I expected to commit suicide." When others were down this was a man who lifted their spirits and kept them positive. "He was loved by everyone."