Frustration is again boiling over in the Darwin detention centre. There have been six attempted suicides in the last two days \u2013 five on Monday, and one on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Yesterday, Tuesday, fellow asylum seekers followed one man onto the roof of one of the compounds and physically prevented him from attempting to hang himself.<\/p>\n
There have been reports of up to 15 attempted suicide and self harm attempts a day in the last few days.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, increasing numbers of asylum seekers in the detention centre have been holding one hour warning protests over the last three days.<\/p>\n
The protests have grown from 30 to around 55. More are expected to join today, when another protest will take place today (Wednesday) between 12.00 and 1.00pm.<\/p>\n
The tensions and protests are focused on the long delays for answers or for hearing dates for appeals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe arbitrary processing arrangements are fuelling the frustrations. The asylum seekers are warning there will be a major protest in the detention centres unless the issues with long term detention are addressed. There are similar hunger strike protests and horrendous levels of self harm happening in Curtin,\u201d said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive people got visas this week, but they are people who have been in detention only a few months. Others waiting between 1 and 2 years are being left in limbo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Malaysia agreement is not the only way the Labor government is abusing the rights of asylum seekers. While political attention has been focused on the High Court and the Malaysia agreement, mandatory detention continues to takes its toll in the detention centres. The government has the opportunity to re-assess its entire detention regime.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are still around 6000 asylum seekers in detention. They should be immediately released so they can live in the community while their claims are being processed,\u201d said Rintoul.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone in here is very upset. No one is thinking straight any more. People are waiting for months \u2013 for nothing,\u201d one Darwin asylum seeker told the Refugee Action Coalition, \u201cThere are no answers. No-one can tell us what is happening.\u201d<\/p>\n