I am a Tamil refugee who was in a detention centre for six and a half years.
In 2009, I left Sri Lanka on a small boat with thirty others. The journey took nearly one month – we were very seasick, and for the last two days, there was no food.
I started off on Christmas Island, and then I was moved to a detention centre in Melbourne, which was much better, because we could have visitors, and church people came so we could share our story, our pain.
In the detention centres, I started taking strong sleeping tablets. When I took the sleeping tablets, I didn’t know what time it was, what I was doing, what I was eating. Then, after being awake for three hours, I would take one again. It was good because we didn’t have to think about anything else, we were only focused on sleeping. Sometimes people saved them up and tried to kill themselves. After that, we had to show our ID, and get just one each time.
Sometimes, I still can’t sleep now because I am thinking, thinking, thinking too much. I try to forget my past life, but I can’t. One small thing brings everything back. Living in 200 square metres for 6 years – it was like being in a prison – I could see around the fence but I couldn’t go there. I can’t get those years back again. I lost my family, I lost my education, I feel like I lost my life.
A year ago, I was released into Community Detention, which means I can be free in the community, but I still don’t have any permanent visa. Now, I’m a chef with Tamil Feasts. We make a dinner for Aussies twice a week and share our stories and our culture with them. There are many, many stories – most of the chefs were in a detention centre for more than 6 years, so we have our sadnesses. But the people love our food, and I feel happier, because I see new people, and new faces, and it helps me to forget.
Nirma
Sri Lanka
Arrived 2009
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I’m sorry you were detained for 6 years. I hope you get your visa and continue to enjoy living in our country.
I am so sorry for the further trauma you’ve experienced at the hands of our government. I hope your visa is sorted very soon and that your experience of life here improves to help some of your wounds start to heal. All the best.
Sri Lanka is a beautiful island ,I was their in the 70’s,be proud of your heritage,share it with other’s and find peace in knowing you are now free and safe in this beautiful island of Australia
Welcome to the real Australia, our government doesn’t represent all of us, I hope you can find happiness here, it’s a great place.
Where is Tamil Feasts? I’d like to go there ????
We stole six years of this man’s life. We did this because he was seeking safety. Still he waits to start his life here. He waits and he waits. They all wait, and some, too many, die waiting. We must not let this continue. The election may be sooner than we think, let those who are fighting to represent us know that we have not lost our humanity. If you vote for a party that will continue these atrocities then you are complicit in stealing the lives of fellow humans, that is a truth that we will live with forever.
Nirma, I just want to say I heard you. It’s not much I know, but you have been heard. Your story is important and your pain is important and we are listening. I am glad you have moments now where you can forget around people who care. My hope for you is a bright future and I hope New Humans of Australia can keep us updated on your Visa situation. Take care sir.
To treat refugees like criminals when all they want is to live a productive and free existence is beyond words. We take our own freedom for granted and show no empathy for those less fortunate. It’s a tragedy.
6 years.You can commit a major crime in this country and serve less.I apologise for those 6 years we stole from you .Wishing you happiness and freedom.
You should not have had to endure that. I pray for your healing, and pray even harder for a permanent visa for you.
There is no excuse for the 6 years in the detention centres but may i ask, why did you leave your own country and why did you bipass other countries to get to Australia. People need to understand the whys
I’m so sorry to hear of your suffering Nirma & hope you find peace and happiness here in Australia. The Tamil Feasts initiative sounds wonderful – Sri Lankan feasts are the best ESP the hoppers!
I’m sorry our government treated you so cruelly. May you find freedom from suffering and be blessed with many opportunities in Australia
Welcome. My wish for the next chapter of your life is that you are able to call Australia home and our community will gift you many moments kindness and joy.
I’m so sorry our government did that to you. Your story breaks my heart ???? May you find peace, happiness and safety in Australia.
I would also like to apologize for the way you were treated when you came to Australia. It was, and still is, heartless and cruel. I’m very happy you have some freedom now in the community and I pray you are able to become a citizen of Australia in the future (if you still want to be). Thanks for all the good you do in the community you live in. May God bless you Nirma
So glad you are now sharing your story and beautiful service with the community. We need your strength and resilience here.
I’m so sorry your story is very sad but it hasn’t finished yet and I wish you great things from now on … Starting with a resident visa and then a family if that is what you want ????????
வணக்கம் சகோதரா. ..
உனது சுயசரிதையை படித்ததும் மனம் வலிக்கிறது.
நீரின்றி, உணவின்றி, தூக்கமின்றி
கடலில் கடினமான பயணமதை கடந்தும் ஆறுவருடம் நீ அனுபவித்த சிறைவாசம் ஆறாத ரணங்களாய் நெஞ்சைத் துளைக்கிறது…
அந்த நினைவுகளை மறந்துவிடு
ஒன்றை மட்டும் உணர்ந்துவிடு போராட்டம் நிறைந்ததே வாழ்கை
யாருக்குத்தான் இல்லை துன்பம். ஒவ்வொரு வெற்றியாளனுக்கு பின்னாடியும் எத்தனையோ கஸ்டமும் துயரமும் உழைப்பும் நிறைந்திருகிறது….
எல்லாம் கடந்து போகும் கவலைப்பட வேண்டாம் கடவுளின் சோதனைகளை நாம் எதிர்கொண்டு வெற்றிக்கு வழி சமைப்போம் .
அவுஸ்ரேலிய அரசே அகதித்தமிழர்களுக்கு குடியுரிமை வழங்கி வாழ்வளிக்க கெஞ்சுகிறோம்….
After speaking to someone who knows about these things, I have been told that it is a navigational issue and they still must have selected the destination and navigated to it. I would like to know the reason as asked before.
Thanks to Nirma and Nicola for sharing this story. It speaks for itself. Happy to chip in to help bring more of these stories to light. I never imagined I’d be an artist’s patron.
done happy to be a patron
If you’re in Melbourne, please check out Tamil Feasts on a Monday or Tuesday night! It’s held at Ceres, so it’s in a gorgeous setting, and the food was delicious. It was a really lovely night out and I’ll be booking in again soon!
Thank you Nirma for your bravery in speaking out at all and sorry for the dreadful treatment my country has perpetrated on you.
I have worked with people fighting addiction wrote on people in detention and know that you have a mammoth task in rehabilitating. May God be with you my friend and I hope you will be able to settle soon and enjoy freedom, find a life and live.
I am sorry for your pain and loss. May you build a new life here in peace and security.