The death of a Sri Lankan woman at an immigration detention facility in March has become a rallying cry as the Diet discusses a government-drafted bill to revise the immigration law.
The Justice Ministry’s Immigration Services Agency of Japan investigated the incident and released an interim report on April 9, shortly before the start of the Diet’s discussion on the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law.
But the report apparently omitted the fact that a psychiatrist recommended that Wishma Sandamali receive provisional release two days before her death.
Opposition lawmakers have taken issue with the omission, demanding a full accounting of how the woman died in detention.
Students argue against the revision bill to toughen Japan’s asylum system at a gathering in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on April 14. (Ryuichi Kitano)
Opposition lawmakers joined international criticism of a revision bill that would make it easier for the government to deport foreigners who are illegally staying in Japan, including those seeking asylum.
“It could endanger their lives if they were deported based on a mistaken judgment,” Tomohiro Yara, a member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said at the Lower House plenary session on April 16.
Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa, however, underlined the urgency and significance of amending the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law.