Ruthless torturing of asylum seekers continues in Indonesia by Indonesian Torturation (Police and Immigration) Authorities with impunity.
Tam HAS have received pictures of Hazara Asylum Seekers who are being brutally tortured and beaten by the evil Guards in Tanjung Pinang detention center following their escape from notorious detention center
According to our sources , on Tuesday morning 17th of July around 55-60 asylum seekers (majority the most persecuted minority ethnic Hazaras) dared to escape detention center in the dark at 3:00am not aware of the aftermath dire consequences. Later in the day, more than 20 had been caught and brought back to the center, where, they were being tortured and beaten almost to death. After hours of un-abated torture they are locked up in an isolated cell with severe wounds, broken legs and arms. Electricity has also been cut off and basic utilities have been denied to the particular group of tormented asylum seekers. Whereabouts of other 40 escapees is still unknown.
Among escapees are those who have been waiting for their claims to be processed for more than two,three years or more. Despair, negligent of UNHCR, fear of torture, mental trauma & illness, anxiety and inhumane treatment leaves an asylum seeker with no option but to try to get out of this Hades, said one the detainees.We are hopeless, our life is as worse as hell, we have gone mad here, we are gradually dying here, so as our families in our homeland out of terror and persecution, message from another detainee, we received.
Most of the detainees held in Tanjungpinag DC are found to be genuine “refugees” but are ironically still locked up in the center.
Despite full awareness of the matter UN refugee agency have not visited the center and no comments have been made yet, let alone any action. UNHCR have been completely incompetent in taking action and preventing such atrocities against persecuted asylum seekers.
The Indonesian authorities have successfully concealed the issue by spreading the misleading and false information about the escape and brutal torture. The Jakarta Globe leading English newspaper quoted Yunus Junaid, the head of the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center’s false statement stating that asylum seekers were equipped with knives. People who have been to detention centers are totally aware that no fatal or sharp item is allowed inside the center.
The inhuman treatment of asylum seekers in Indonesia is one of those events which are never given coverage by the media. This makes it easier for the Indonesian Torturation (Police and Immigration) authorities to treat the innocent asylum seekers like animals in their farm.
The recent heart-wrenching photos of tortured asylum seekers once again seek attention of Human Rights Representatives, UNHCR and Australian Government and appeal them to exercise their humanitarian obligation.
Government of Australia and other concerned authorities should seriously consider fate of asylum seekers who are subject to torture and mental trauma on daily basis for committing no crime but escaping death and seeking asylum.
Last year another Hazara asylum seeker named Taqi was beaten to death by same authorities and to this dates no one is prosecuted, neither matter is raised by any Human Rights Organization with UNHCR or Indonesia.
Indeed It is a matter of Shame for every Human being.