SA: Inmates attempted suicide at Baxter say advocates

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-2006
SA: Inmates attempted suicide at Baxter say advocates

ADELAIDE, Dec 12 AAP - Refugee advocates say six people have tried to take their own
lives at the Baxter Detention centre in South Australia over the past week.

Western Australian group Project SafeCom said the inmates had tried to hang themselves
while some had also slashed themselves with broken glass and mirrors.

"These incidents are no surprise," said project SafeCom spokesman Jack Smit.

"The fact remains that Australia locks up people in detention centre jails such as
Baxter which represent maximum security jails, wherever they are built around Australia.

"Mandatory detention is a bankrupt policy and these incidents form yet another layer
in the hundreds of stories that affirm this."

An immigration department spokesman today confirmed that a number of incidents had
taken place over the past few days but none had resulted in serious injury to any inmates.

The latest incident occurred this morning and the inmate involved was currently being
assessed, he said.

Last week two men jumped from a roof at Baxter and were hospitalised.

A security guard who attempted to catch one of the detainees was also taken to hospital.

All three suffered minor injuries.

AAP tjd/grc/de

KEYWORD: BAXTER

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