Asylum seeker found dead after escaping Christmas Island detention centre
Last edited Sun Nov 8, 2015, 12:10 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
An asylum seeker has died on Christmas Island after he escaped from the Australian-run detention centre on Saturday morning.
Key points:
Immigration Department says detention centre staff reported a man missing on Saturday morning
Australian Federal Police found man's body on Sunday
Refugee Action Coalition says man who died was Iranian Kurd in his 30s
Australian Federal Police found the body on Sunday after a day-long search for the man.
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection confirmed the escape and death on Sunday evening and said the matter was being investigated by the coroner. The department said in a statement that service provider staff reported an "illegal maritime arrival" had escaped from centre on Saturday morning.
"The matter was referred to the Australian Federal Police who commenced a search and discovered a deceased person today," the statement said. The Refugee Action Coalition said the detainee was an Iranian Kurdish man in his 30s.
Border protection officials said the situation remained calm at the detention centre.
Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-08/asylum-seeker-who-escaped-christmas-island-dies/6922666
Australia has a VERY controversial refugee policy that critics label racist and a sad throwback to Australia's historical exclusion of "non-whites" :
"So why does Australia have tough asylum policies?
Domestically, asylum is a hot political issue. Polls have shown that a significant number of Australians approve of taking a tougher stance.
The two biggest political parties adopted tough policies ahead of the September 2013 polls. The Tony Abbott-led Liberal-National coalition, which won, had campaigned in part on a "stop the boats" platform.
The government says the journey the asylum seekers make is dangerous and controlled by criminal gangs and they have a duty to stop it. Critics say opposition to asylum is often racially motivated and is damaging Australia's reputation.
What did the last government do?
The Labor government reintroduced offshore processing in Nauru and Papua New Guinea (PNG) - a policy it had ended in 2008.
The government pays outsourced contractors to operate and provide security at temporary detention camps for asylum seekers on the Pacific islands.
It also reached a deal with PNG that any asylum seekers judged to be genuine refugees would be resettled in PNG, not Australia."
The camps on PNG and Nauru are controversial, with activists condemning living conditions
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-28189608
Jake Stern
(3,145 posts)but not all countries want to be like Germany and Sweden: opening their doors wide open for any schmuck with a sob story.
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)But of course we're the bad guys cuz we only welcome 100,000 new citizens a year.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)culture beliefs and values are in direct opposition to those of Western Democracies. I think they are being wise. Europe is going to be a total shitshow in a few more years.
treestar
(82,383 posts)a "sob story?" My goodness.