Refugees on hunger strike in Australia
Up to 100 asylum-seekers in detention in Australia were on hunger
strike yesterday after being informed they would be transferred to a
remote Pacific island under a tough new refugee policy.
An Immigration Department spokesman said “around 100” asylum-seekers
being held at the Christmas Island detention centre had launched the
strike on Saturday night after they were told they would be sent to
Nauru.
They will be among the first group transferred to the tiny and remote
Pacific island to await the processing of their refugee claims under a
strict new policy Canberra hopes will deter a record flow of
people-smuggling ships.
“They were informed yesterday of the decision to transfer them to
Nauru, and obviously it’s pretty difficult news to take,” the spokesman
told AFP. “We’re managing that and trying to provide all the support and
assistance we can, it’s obviously pretty difficult all round.” Under new
legislation passed by Parliament this month asylum-seekers who arrive by
boat will be sent to either Nauru or Papua New Guinea’s Manus Island for
indefinite periods while their visas are assessed.
It represents an about-face by the Labor Party which abandoned the
policy after winning power in 2007, after complaints people had
languished for years on the islands before being resettled under the
previous government.
Authorities have not clarified how long people would have to wait on
Nauru or Manus before being resettled and have admitted that the remote
facilities are so run down they were not yet suitable for use. Refugee
activists said “around 67” detainees were believed to be on hunger
strike in the Christmas Island facility and “scores” of police had also
been sent to the remote immigration centre to head off any protests.
“The hunger strikers say that their treatment is unfair -- they were
not aware of any changed policy by the Australian government,” said
activist Ian Rintoul. There were reportedly similar starvation protests
occurring at facilities in the northern city of Darwin, where refugee
advocates said a group that included unaccompanied minors was “shocked”
to learn they would also be sent offshore.
“The fact that unaccompanied minors... may be sent to remote
locations for unknown periods of time should be a source of shame for
the minister for immigration and the Australian government,” said Darwin
activist Peter Robson. “There is little wonder as a result that there
are reports that there are large hunger strikes now occurring in
Darwin.” The immigration spokesman said food, water and medical
assistance was available to all detainees and they were “obviously
encouraged” to eat and drink. “These sorts of protests and activities
don’t have any effect on the outcome of their case, and likewise it
won’t alter government policy,” he said. –
AFP |