Asylum seekers at Australia’s Pacific detention camps attempt suicide in wake of shock election result
- Around 800 would-be refugees had been praying for a Labor victory, which might have ended Canberra’s current detainment hardline policy
- But the surprise victory of Scott Morrison’s centre-right coalition dashed hopes and set off a wave of self-harm
Many had prayed for a more lenient policy from Labor, who had been strongly tipped to win.
But an unexpected victory by Scott Morrison’s centre-right coalition dashed hopes and set off a wave of self-harm, with a number of people being admitted to hospital.
Prominent Kurdish author and asylum seeker Behrouz Boochani said in a tweet sent from one of the camps: “The situation in Manus is out of control, today two more people attempted suicide.”
Manus Provincial Police Commander David Yapu said that he was aware of at least 10 suicide attempts including four over the weekend.
“It’s an issue we are faced with right now,” he said. “Over the weekend we had an attempted arson of their rooms, and right now we have some that are refusing to eat.”
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs did not respond to a request for comment.
The United Nations and human rights organisations have roundly condemned the conservative government’s policy.
Morrison’s election win triggers surge on New Zealand migration website
Activists said the election was a breaking point.
“It has been building for six years, but the weekend’s election result has precipitated a crisis that the government cannot afford to ignore,” said Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition.
“Offshore detention is slowing strangling the life out of its victims,” he added.