Hundreds of people are expected to participate in rallies following the death of a 23-year-old Tamil asylum seeker.
Mano Yogalingam took his own life in public this week.
In the week before he died, Yogalingam had protested outside the Department of Home Affairs for the faster processing of permanent visas for asylum seekers.
The Government has said it “provides protection [to asylum seekers] consistent with its international obligations”.
Yogalingam
Yogalingam arrived in Australia at 11-years-old with his parents and four siblings, after fleeing persecution in Sri Lanka in 2012.
Yogalingam’s family are Christian Tamils, part of a minority group in Sri Lanka who face persecution.
They arrived in Australia on a boat from India and were detained for several months before being released into the community.
Yogalingam had been waiting for over 12 years for permanent residency.
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
In the final weeks of his life, Yogalingam had been part of a protest in Melbourne calling for faster permanent visa processing.
The Tamil Refugee Councilas a “tenacious activist and fighter” who lived a life “full of torment and suffering”.
It said the incident is the “heartbreaking outcome” of Australia’s “inhumane policies” that leave “countless refugees” living in fear of being forced to “return to the prosecution [they’d] fled.”
Govt response
The Department of Home Affairs said its “condolences are with family members and other individuals impacted at this difficult time.”
For privacy reasons, the Department said it could not comment on Yogalingam’s visa status.
A spokesperson told TDA that the Government is focused on theand its standard remains consistent with “its international obligations.”
LIFELINE: 13 11 14
