RAC NSW MEDIA RELEASE
The Villawood hunger strike has dramatically escalated today (Friday)
with more than 100 people, a majority of the detainees, across all
nationalities, joining the protest. Reports from inside Villawood
indicate that almost no-one went to the dining area today.
Meanwhile another Chinese hunger strike was taken to hospital around
2.30pm Saturday with grave fears that his sight may be permanently
damaged.
The man in his early 40s is a diabetic and has been on hunger strike for
nine days since the Villawood protest began following the deportation of
Chinese woman on Wednesday 28 March.
Detainees said that the man was unable to see when he was taken from the
detention centre.
Anxiety levels inside Villawood have risen sharply with large numbers of
police maintaining an obvious presence throughout the detention centre.
A high wire fence mounted in concrete
footings has been erected around the detention centre and water filled
barricades placed at the main entrance and the roadway leading into the
detention centre.
There is an undeclared state of emergency inside Villawood, said Ian
Rintoul. It is a ridiculous waste of money and a thoughtless,
vindictive act by the Immigration department. The Immigration department
is trying to intimidate the asylum seekers and isolate the hunger
strikers, but their plan is badly backfiring.
There is a feeling that Australian people do care and will hear their
voice across the wire fences. Thats why more people are joining the
hunger strike protest, said Ian Rintoul.
Easter is always a stark reminder of the values espoused by the
Coalition government, and the hypocrisy of the government Ministers.
While many of them will go to church services where the message is one
of hope, compassion and reconciliation. Yet inside the detention centres
the government spreads despair.
The asylum seekers want to hear from the Immigration department. Is the
Minister listening or is he turning a deaf ear to the appeals to stand
up for human rights and stop long term detention and stop the
deportations to China?
Refugee supporters and others will hold a protest at Kirribilli House on
Easter Sunday, 8 April, assembling at 12.00 at Bradfield Park before
marching to the Prime Ministers residence.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
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Refugee Action Collective - Victoria
1 comment:
Last Update: Sunday, April 8, 2007. 4:30pm (AEST)
The Villawood inmates are reportedly protesting against the deportation of a Chinese woman.
The Villawood inmates are reportedly protesting against the deportation of a Chinese woman.
100 Villawood detainees on hunger strike, advocates say
Refugee advocates says more than 100 people at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre are now on a hunger strike.
The Immigration Department disputes the numbers involved, with a spokeswoman saying eight people are refusing food but are still taking fluids.
Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition says the inmates are staging the protest over the recent deportation of a Chinese woman.
He says they are very worried about what will happen to the Chinese detainees when they are sent back to their country.
"Most of the people who have been deported are among the group of Chinese that were interviewed by Chinese Government officials in 2005, so they are particularly vulnerable," he said.
"The Chinese Government has got all the details they have, and they have got them courtesy of the Australian Government inviting them into the detention centre."
Mr Rintoul says the inmates are desperate to be heard.
"I think it's a measure of the desperation - what the people say to us is that they face a much worse fate if they are returned to China," he said.
"They even say they would rather die here, fighting against being deported, than to be sent back to face what will happen to them at the hands of the Chinese authorities."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200704/s1892290.htm
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