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Bileola Family: Kopika Murugappan paints heartbreaking picture of life in detention

Michael TraillThe West Australian
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The Biloela family.
Camera IconThe Biloela family. Credit: The Project/supplied

The Bileola family’s daughters have painted a heartbreaking picture of life inside detention at Christmas Island, saying they had “no friends”.

In their first interview since being ordered into community detention in Perth, the family’s mother Priya Murugappan, pleaded with Immigration Minister Alex Hawke to prevent their deportation to Sri Lanka.

She said they could be killed in Sri Lanka — where they will likely face persecution as ethnic Tamils.

“Anything could happen to us if we are sent back to Sri Lanka,” Mrs Murugappan told The Project on Thursday night.

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“We could lose our lives.

“If we go back I’m not confident they’ll let us live.”

Three-month bridging visas for Mrs Murugappan, her husband Nades Murugappan and eldest daughter Kopika are due to expire next month.

The Biloela family.
Camera IconThe Biloela family. Credit: The Project/supplied

In June, the family made headlines after their youngest daughter, four-year-old Tharnicaa, was medically evacuated from Christmas Island to Perth.

Both Tharnicaa and Kopika were born in Australia.

Since Tharnicaa was released from Perth Children’s Hospital, after recovering from a blood infection and pneumonia, the family has been held in community detention.

Two weeks ago, they lost a High Court legal battle for Tharnicaa to be granted a protection visa, which could have paved way for permanent resettlement in Australia.

“I’m not worried about the (Priya and I),” Mr Murugappan said.

“We have lived.

“We beg the minister to consider our children’s future and let us live safely.”

Mrs Murugappan and Mr Murugappan arrived in Australia by boat in 2012 and 2013.

All members of the family except, for Tharnicaa, have exhausted their legal attempts to be granted refugee status.

The family was living and working in the Queensland regional town of Biloela up until March 2018, when their visas expired.

A community-led campaign to return them to the town began after they were removed from their home during a police raid and put into detention.

They were transferred to Christmas Island in August 2019.

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