letter to Senator Singh, Labor on deaths on Manus Island 24 August 2017

From: Mike

Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2017 1:24 PM

To: senator.singh@aph.gov.au

Subject: Fw: Another death on Manus Island

Dear Senator Singh,

I have just watched the video of your speech to the Senate  about asylum seekers and refugees on Manus and Nauru. A huge thank you to you for breaking ranks with your Labor colleagues and speaking out about the terrible things that are being inflicted on these wretched people in our name. I do hope that your sentiments will resonate with your parliamentary colleagues and that the Labor party will finally rediscover its principles and humanity.

I am including below for your information an email that I recently sent to Shayne Nuemann. Sadly, I received the usual anodyne and dispiriting response.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Griffin

From: Mike

Sent: Sunday, August 13, 2017 6:51 PM

To: Shayne Neumann MP

Cc: Tanya Plibersek MP

Subject: Another death on Manus Island

Dear Mr Neumann,

Earlier this month we learned of yet another death of an asylum seeker on Manus Island. Hamid Shamshiripoor was just 31 years old, and had spent more than three years on Manus Island as a result of the Labor government’s pronouncement four years ago that no asylum seekers arriving by boat would ever be resettled in Australia. It is not clear whether or not this poor young man, who was entitled to our protection, was murdered or committed suicide.  No matter, he is now dead.

We do know that he had serious mental health problems.

We do know that his fellow detainees pleaded in writing to the authorities in the detention centre  for Hamid to receive treatment for his illness.

We do now that, instead of receiving treatment, Hamid was often imprisoned , bashed, moved around, and was finally homeless.

We do know that his case was referred to the Australian Border Force’s chief medical officer some twelve months ago.

We do know that he did not receive the care that he needed, and that he was entitled to.

We do know that nobody in authority cares. And that includes your Party.

And we do know that the Labor party, and you in particular, remains silent about these gross abuses of the human rights of refugees, for purely political purposes.

When will the Labor party rediscover its heart, it’s soul and its principles? The party that I belonged to for more than 30 years cared about the vulnerable, the underprivileged, and about those in need. Not any more.

Mike Griffin