REFUGEE GROUPS CALL ON MINISTER TO HALT VILLAWOOD DEPORTATION – COMPLEMENTARY PROTECTION LEGISLATION COULD SAVE HIM
BRUTAL ACTION A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME FOR MALAYSIA FORCED TRANSFERS?
The beating of an Indian man being forcibly deported to India may be a taste of things to come for anyone being forcibly expelled to Malaysia in the future under the Malaysia agreement.
This (Wednesday) morning, Serco guards physically beat the Indian man in an effort to force him onto the plane. He has suffered extensive bruising and swelling to his face. When the deportation failed, he was returned to Villawood detention centre where he remains in isolation in the high security stage 1 section of the centre.
He has been told that the police will be used tomorrow morning in an attempt to carry out the forced deportation. Refugee advocates fear that arm and leg shackles and even a gag may be used to carry out the deportation.
“A forced deportation is a brutal act,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“We are calling on the Minister to take urgent action to halt the deportation of this man. It is possible that this man’s case could fall under the terms of the ‘complementary protection’ legislation being introduced this parliamentary session.”
The Indian man arrived in Australia in 2008 to attend the Catholic youth festival, World Youth Day.
“He has been unrepresented throughout his refugee determination process. He has letters supporting his case that have never been translated and have not been considered by the Refugee Review Tribunal.
“He has extreme fears for his safety if he is returned to India. There is evidence that this man is a victim of persecution on religious grounds and that he being targeted by the police in his home region for those reasons. Documents from Amnesty International support his claim.
“The least the Minister could do is reconsider his case under the terms of the new legislation. There is no room for mistakes with deportations. The Minister is literally playing with his life,” said Rintoul.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul, mob 0417 275 713
