Australia's Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has denied that the government's asylum policy was the reason behind why a Tamil asylum seeker committed suicide earlier this week.
Leorsin Seemanpillai, a Tami asylum seeker who fled Sri Lanka self immolated and died from his injuries on Saturday night. He had spent 18 months in Australia, but was yet to be granted refugee status.
Speaking to reporters about the death, the Immigration Minister denied the much criticised Australian process was implicated in Seemanpillai's death, stating,
Leorsin Seemanpillai, a Tami asylum seeker who fled Sri Lanka self immolated and died from his injuries on Saturday night. He had spent 18 months in Australia, but was yet to be granted refugee status.
Speaking to reporters about the death, the Immigration Minister denied the much criticised Australian process was implicated in Seemanpillai's death, stating,
“He had not received any outcome on his protection visa applications, so he received no advice that he was being sent anywhere and that his claim was still being processed and as a result there was no indication that he was being removed anywhere or that he hadn't been found to be a refugee or for that matter that he had.”He went on to add,
“And I don't think we're in any position, and I frankly don't think anyone else is in any position, to draw any conclusions about what is in a person's mind in that situation.”Morrison's comments on the death were strongly rebuked by refugee advocates who liaised with Mr Seemanpillai. Aran Mylvaganam from the Tami Refugee Council said,
“I have, you know, beyond doubt I believe that Leo has come to this conclusion because of Australian Government repeated threat of being deported back to Sri Lanka. He has shared that with myself, many other refugees who he has had come to know.”The Minister's controversial comments, follow his remarks in October of last year, where Mr Morrison said,
"Anyone who may have come from Sri Lanka should know that they will go back to Sri Lanka. We have an arrangement with the Sri Lankan government and … we'll be ensuring that we maximise those who go back and, preferably, they will all go back".