‘Came here with hope’ and ‘died unseen’: tearful crowd says goodbye to homeless man Bikram Lama
Summary
A homeless man named Bikram Lama, who came to Australia from Nepal as a student, died alone in Sydney’s Hyde Park. Supporters held a vigil to remember him and called for changes to better help homeless people without permanent residency in Australia.Key Facts
- Bikram Lama came to Australia from Nepal to study computer science in 2013.
- He died while sleeping rough in Sydney’s Hyde Park and was not found for up to a week.
- His body was in a decomposed state when discovered by station staff near St James station.
- Lama’s elderly mother had to travel to Nepal to provide a DNA sample to confirm his identity.
- Support workers said his non-resident status made it very difficult to get help to escape homelessness.
- A vigil was held in Hyde Park where people remembered Lama and highlighted the struggles of non-resident homeless individuals.
- MP Alex Greenwich has asked for an inquest to investigate if government policies contributed to Lama’s death.
- Advocates said that current laws and policies may discriminate against homeless people who are not permanent residents in Australia.
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