Suicide Attempts in Japanese Detention Facility
Suicide attempts in Japanese detention facility
"OSAKA (Kyodo) At least 23 people held at a Justice Ministry immigration detention facility in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, tried to kill or harm themselves between March 2000 and last July, with one fatality, according to administrative data released at the request of Kyodo News.
Many of the detainees were held for entering Japan illegally or for staying in Japan in violation of the immigration law. Among the 23 were people seeking refugee status in Japan.
Supporters said refugee claimants have been complaining of being treated like criminals for long periods after fleeing their countries and risking their lives...
... Shogo Watanabe, a lawyer with extensive experience in refugee issues, said, "The big problem is the fact that they are detained for an indefinite period.
"Feelings of despair and a sense that they are facing a deadlock have a considerable psychological impact on them," Watanabe said. "The Justice Ministry should recognize the gravity of detaining a human being."
The Japan Times: October 10, 2004"
(The article itself, apart from it's sensational title, does highlight concerns among a lot of people in Japan about both human rights and mental health issues involved in the holding of people indefinitely in immigration detention facililies - Timi).
"OSAKA (Kyodo) At least 23 people held at a Justice Ministry immigration detention facility in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, tried to kill or harm themselves between March 2000 and last July, with one fatality, according to administrative data released at the request of Kyodo News.
Many of the detainees were held for entering Japan illegally or for staying in Japan in violation of the immigration law. Among the 23 were people seeking refugee status in Japan.
Supporters said refugee claimants have been complaining of being treated like criminals for long periods after fleeing their countries and risking their lives...
... Shogo Watanabe, a lawyer with extensive experience in refugee issues, said, "The big problem is the fact that they are detained for an indefinite period.
"Feelings of despair and a sense that they are facing a deadlock have a considerable psychological impact on them," Watanabe said. "The Justice Ministry should recognize the gravity of detaining a human being."
The Japan Times: October 10, 2004"
(The article itself, apart from it's sensational title, does highlight concerns among a lot of people in Japan about both human rights and mental health issues involved in the holding of people indefinitely in immigration detention facililies - Timi).
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