REFUGEE ACTION COALITION MEDIA RELEASE LIVES AT RISK ON MANUS ISLAND: IMMEDIATE ACTION NEEDED ALERT: The Refugee Action Coalition has called a vigil for 5pm today, Friday 12 December, at Sydney Town Hall Square to protest against the government’s Asylum Caseload Legacy Bill and the on-going abuse of asylum seekers on Manus Island and Nauru. Speakers will include Nicole Judge, the ex Salvation Army worker who gave evidence at the Senate enquiry into the events surrounding the killing of Reza Berati on Manus Island last February. “Lives are still in danger on Manus Island,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition., “They medical negligence that killed Hamid Kehazaie is still the standard on Manus. There are lives at risk both because the low standard of medical care is enforced by IHMS management and the Australian government. “The lives of those found to be refugees are also at risk. Refugees who toured the accommodation in which they are supposed to be housed outside the detention centre were told that the housing will not be secure; leaving them completely vulnerable to the almost inevitable kind of attack that killed Reza Berati. “There must be an immediate safety audit of Manus Island. This cannot wait until the coroners inquest into Hamid’s death, for which could be months away. The government’s expressed confidence in IHMS suggests that IHMS is willing to comply with government requirements that asylum seekers’ medical needs are not the highest priority. ” The ABC reports of IHMS documents showing government concerns with medical decisions - such as “…procedures being recommended were excessive and outside of the contract requirements” - confirm the circumstances that led to the death of Hamid Kehazaie in September. Government imposed proscriptions on medical protocols are still putting lives at risk. One Iranian man has had an ear infection for over four months. Another Manus asylum seeker suffers from what seems to be a blood condition but is in severe pain for which he can only be given panadol, a low white cell blood count, constant lethargy, dizziness, and has fainted twice, the latest only a few days ago. His low white cell count leaves him a constantly vulnerable to the possibility of life-threatening infection. He has been on Manus Island since August 2012, but has received no treatment and the condition remains undiagnosed. A Syrian man transferred to Australia for medical treatment earlier this year was returned to Manus Island in February. When symptoms recurred on Manus Island, doctors said told the man they could not send him back to Australia because he had already been there once. “Government policy has already been responsible for two deaths on Manus Island. As long as offshore processing and mentality of deterrence remain in place, more deaths are inevitable,” said Rintoul. Meanwhile the consequences of the Senate cross-benchers support for the government’s Asylum Legacy Bill have become more obvious, as the government uses powers under the Bill to threaten families bought to from Nauru to Australia, for medical reasons, or to give birth, with being returned. For more information contact Ian Rintoul mob 0417 275 713.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 01:57:00 +0000