When asked if the protest had achieved anything, Ngaromoa replied:
"Did we achieve anything boys? Absolutely. This is from all walks of life on this earth and we all came united."
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Villawood protesters claim victory (1:58)
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Aug 24, 2007 6:18 PM
Two New Zealanders who have been protesting on the roof of an Australian immigration jail have declared victory on their fourth night out in the open.
The Hawke's Bay men have come down from the roof of Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre and ended a hunger strike after immigration officials met with detainees and agreed to improve conditions.
New Zealanders Montana Kelly, 27, his cousin Bruce Ngaromoa, 32, and 30-year-old Vietnamese man Van Nguyn climbed onto the roof on Monday night in a protest sparked by the cancellation of inmates' visits to family outside the centre.
The Villawood Three were preparing for another long night on the roof when news came that immigration officials were backing down.
"It was a victory," says Ngaromoa.
A spokeswoman for Australia's immigration minister had gone on record saying there would be no negotiations on conditions inside the centre until the men came down.
"The issues that we've asked... they're going to address those tomorrow morning," says Ngaromoa.
"We're waiting for them to come back with more paperwork."
As well as seeking drug and violence counselling common in any prison, the protesters also asked negotiators if they will face any charges for their protest.
They were assured that no charges would be laid.
When asked if the protest had achieved anything, Ngaromoa replied:
"Did we achieve anything boys? Absolutely. This is from all walks of life on this earth and we all came united."
The three have served jail time in Australia and they face deportation as a result.
While they fight against that, they will continue to be detained at the centre where the Australian government charges each inmate $125 a night.
The inmates run up a debt they must pay back if they are deported and ever want to return.
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