HUNGER STRIKE AT VILLAWOOD

Further to Ian's media release. We've just heard that Ms Yuan started to eat yesterday (Fri) afternoon. This means that there is one male asylum seeker left on hunger strike (now 54 days). He is still in stage 2 at Villawood. We are investigating further ways to get publicity for his situation in order to pressure the minister.

Mark

ps: a reminder that NSW RAC is currently meeting on the first Monday of the month, 6pm at the Teachers Federation (23 Mary St, Surry Hills). Next meeting will be Mon 5 June.

Ian Rintoul wrote:

Dear All,
Below is the press release for the 50th day of the Villawood hunger strike.
It is now 53 days. The situation is just the same. We have no further
information about Ms Yuan being force fed. I have been able to confirm that the Chinese man in Stage 1 (who was transferred from Baxter) came off hunger strike four days ago.

I will paste in Kevin Andrews contact details if people can phone or fax his office to urge him to act in this matter, that would be appreciated.

Ian

MEDIA RELEASE

50 DAYS: REFUGEE SUPPORTERS HOLD VIGIL FOR VILLAWOOD HUNGER STRIKE

Refugee supporters will hold a protest vigil outside the Department of
Immigration office, 26 Lee Street, Sydney, from 4.00pm-5.30pm to mark the 50th day of the hunger strike by two Chinese asylum seekers in Villawood detention centre.

The strike began on 28 March following the deportation of Chinese asylum seeker. There are grave fears concerning the welfare of the hunger strikers.
Ms Yuan has been in hospital for over two weeks but is still refusing food.
She suffered kidney problems after only two weeks into the hunger strike.

Reports from the hospital a few days ago indicated that Immigration may be planning to force-feed Ms Yuan.

The Refugee Action Coalition understands that Ms Yuan would have to be determined to be “incompetent” before such a step could be taken. There are strict ethical guidelines for doctors intervening in political protests.

Villawood management is now refusing to allow other detainees to visit the hunger strikers.

“W are pleading with the Minister to urgently intervene to review the cases
of people at Villawood. The fate of these people is in the Ministers hands.
Chinese asylum seekers have said they would rather die here than at the
hands of the Chinese authorities,” aid Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the
Refugee Action Coalition.

“Australia has a responsibility not to send asylum seekers anywhere they may face persecution. The hunger strikers have consistently asked for the Minister to end the forced deportations to China or anywhere else, yet the Minister has forcibly deported at least four people to China while the hunger strike has been on.”

“The government promised a different Immigration department following the revelations of Cornelia Rau and Vivian Solon,” said Ian Rintoul, “but Kevin Andrews has taken the department back to the punitive days of Philip Ruddock. The Minister has behaved recklessly with the lives of those who are supposed to be in his care.”

“We do not want to see a tragedy in Villawood. These people may already have suffered permanent damage to their health on top of the suffering of the months and years of detention.”

For more information contact: Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713




Kevin Andrews: Please phone or send a fax to Immigration Minister Kevin
Andrews (ph 6277 7860; fax 6273 4144) expressing your concern for the people
on hunger strike and urging him to act to end the forced deportations and
announcing a review of the asylum cases and long-term detention. In 2005,
the government promised that long-term detention would be ended but people
are still behind the wire in Villawood for up to 4 years.

Australia has an obligation under the Refugee Convention not to return
asylum seekers anywhere they may face danger. The record of human rights
abuses by the Chinese authorities is well known. The hunger strikers are
demanding that the government follow up those who have been deported to make
sure that they are safe.