Man sets himself ablaze in immigration protest
The Age
By KERRY TAYLOR
and MARK FORBES
CANBERRA
Tuesday 3 April 2001
A Pakistani man protesting the hold-up of his family's application to come
to Australia is in a critical condition after setting himself on fire in
front of Parliament House in Canberra yesterday.
The 47-year-old former asylum seeker was flown to Sydney after the incident
with burns to 50 per cent of his body. It is believed he doused himself
with accelerant, then lit a cigarette lighter in front of more than 100
schoolchildren and tourists outside Parliament House.
Screaming, the man lay down outside the doors to Parliament, where security
staff used fire extinguishers to put out the flames.
Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said last night he was shocked and
dismayed at the incident. He said the man had an outstanding immigration
matter. "It's (self-immolation) not something we are used to or experienced
with ... sadly, he has sought to do so," Mr Ruddock said.
A spokesman for Mr Ruddock later said there had been no prior warning about
the man's protest. "The first we knew was when the police informed us after
the incident occurred," he said.
Mr Ruddock said the man, who came to Australia as an asylum seeker, was
granted permanent residence in 1996. He had sought to bring out his wife
and child who remained in Pakistan. The initial application to bring out
his family was rejected on the grounds of substantial health costs, Mr
Ruddock said in a statement.
After an inquiry by the Commonwealth Ombudsman the family was invited to
submit a new application, which was made in September.
No decision had been made on the new application, Mr Ruddock said.
Mr Ruddock defended the length of time the man's new application had taken
to be processed, saying it was being considered in the usual manner.
The incident is likely to focus international attention on Australia's
immigration and refugee policies.
Damien Lawson
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