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Location : Wasted Space Job/hobbies : Cayman Islands Actuary
| Subject: OZschwitz rights violation: Family of asylum seeker cannot attend his funeral Tue Jun 17, 2014 9:54 pm | |
| When Leo Seemanpillai is buried on Wednesday afternoon in Geelong, his mother, father and three brothers will not be there.
His father cannot view his body before it is interred. His brothers will not be able to speak at the service. His mother will have no chance to cook his favourite foods – meat curries, hot roti, semiya and sambar saatham – and leave them by his grave.
Despite weeks of applications and pleas for compassion, none has been granted a temporary visa to travel from India and say goodbye to their son and sibling. Asylum seeker Leo Seemanpillai committed suicide by self immolation.
Sri Lankan asylum seeker Leo Seemanpillai, 29, took his own life almost three weeks ago, after facing 18 months of uncertainty over his fate in this country.
His death drew more than 300 people to a memorial service and prompted candlelight vigils in Queenscliff and Melbourne. Public attention was not enough for the government to soften its stance.
http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/family-of-asylum-seeker-leo-seemanpillai-cannot-attend-his-funeral-20140617-zsajw.html |
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