Japan apologizes for Sri Lankan woman’s death in immigration detention

The Immigration Services Agency of Japan admitted medical care system flaws in an investigation report on the death of a Sri Lankan woman under detention at an immigration facility, which was released Tuesday.

Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa said a report on the March death of 33-year-old Wishma Sandamali concluded she received inadequate treatment as her health deteriorated.

Sandamali was detained for overstaying her visa after seeking police protection, reportedly to escape an abusive relationship.

She reportedly complained repeatedly of stomach pain and other symptoms starting in January, and campaigners allege she was given inadequate medical care.

“I express my heartfelt condolences to her mother and bereaved family, and my heartfelt apologies for (the) loss of this precious life in the detention center,” Kamikawa said.

The minister said the report had not conclusively determined the cause of Sandamali’s death but found the detention center in Nagoya in central Japan “lacked a system to assess the health of detainees and provide medical services”.

“I have instructed the chief of the immigration services agency to take control and supervise regional outlets appropriately,” Kamikawa said.

“We will carry out reforms with the determination that this never happens again.”

The report noted that a part-time doctor was deployed to the facility in Nagoya only twice a week on weekdays, for two hours each time.

It came to light that Wishma died on Saturday when there was no medical staff at the facility.

The Sri Lankan woman repeatedly requested to allow her to see a doctor at an outside medical facility and receive an intravenous drip as she had been vomiting many times since mid-January.

But her requests, which needed to be approved by the facility chief to be realized, ended up not being heard by any of senior officials as detention officers and other staff members with whom Wishma had contact concluded that there was no need for her to see a doctor, according to the report.

National broadcaster NHK said four officials at the detention center were “reprimanded” over the death, but none were fired.

Human rights campaigners have long criticized conditions at Japanese detention centers, including how guards respond to medical emergencies.

In May, Japan’s ruling lawmakers dropped a controversial push to change rules on handling asylum seekers and deportations after opposition pressure over Sandamali’s death.

The proposed legislation included changes making it easier to deport unsuccessful asylum seekers, something that was heavily criticized by rights groups, who also say Japan should do more to take in refugees.