Tamil asylum seeker dies after self-immolation in Dandenong

The following is a press release from the Tamil Refugee Council on 28 August.

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The tragic death of a Tamil asylum seeker in Dandenong [Melbourne] today highlights the devastating impact of the Australian government’s refugee policies, according to a spokesperson for the Tamil Refugee Council.

“Mano was just 23 years old and had his whole life ahead of him. But the psychological torment inflicted by the Australian government’s cruel and inhumane policies, compounded by personal challenges, drove him to a point where he believed he had nothing left to live for”, said Rathy Barthlote, who was by his side at the hospital when he passed away.

“We have seen countless refugees lose their lives while waiting for permanent visas. Now, we mourn the loss of another young man who, like so many other young Tamils on bridging visas, woke up every day wondering if it would be the day he’d be forced to return to the persecution he fled.”

Mano, a Christian from the Puttalam region in Sri Lanka, arrived in Australia by boat in 2013. Detained for several months upon arrival, he was eventually released into the community. He came to Australia at the age of eleven with his parents and four siblings after his family fled Sri Lanka due to threats from the Sri Lankan military.

On Tuesday evening, Mano set himself alight after dousing himself in petrol, suffering burns to 80 percent of his body. He succumbed to his injuries at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne at around 12pm today.

“Mano had been waiting for over 12 years to learn if he could stay in Australia and escape the persecution he feared in Sri Lanka”, Barthlote continued. “He was acutely aware of the statements made by Minister for Home Affairs Tony Bourke, expressing intent to deport asylum seekers who have fallen victim to the fast track process.”

“His mental health deteriorated under the strain of visa uncertainty, leading to this heartbreaking outcome. We have now lost two lives in a single month, and we fear more will follow. Many Tamil asylum seekers have told me they would rather die here than be sent back to face torture in Sri Lanka. I had always hoped these were just words. Tragically, it seems that’s not the case.”