FED:No hunger strike says immigration

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2011
FED:No hunger strike says immigration

CANBERRA, Aug 6 AAP - The immigration department isn't aware that any of the asylum
seekers facing transfer to Malaysia have launched a hunger strike, as claimed by a refugee
activist.

A Department of Immigration and Citizenship spokesman on Saturday said no plan had
yet been announced for the asylum seekers' transfer to Malaysia.

"There is no one on hunger strike of which we are aware," he told AAP.

"Just because someone misses a meal or two does not mean they are on voluntary starvation.

"In any case, the department would urge any detainee engaging in voluntary starvation
to eat the food and drink the water that is available to them at all times.

"Any such action would not have an effect on their situation."

The first boatload of asylum seekers who are to be processed under the federal government's
swap deal between Canberra and Kuala Lumpur arrived on Christmas island on Thursday.

The group includes 18 minors, or people claiming to be minors. Up to 14 of them are
unaccompanied.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul earlier said asylum seeker advocates
had received a distress call from one of the group on Friday.

"The short call said only: `We are in a bad way; we need help. We are starting a hunger
strike'," Mr Rintoul said on Friday.

"The abuse of their human rights has started even before they have been sent to Malaysia."

The immigration department spokesman said there was a lot of speculation about the
group's expected movement.

"They will be transferred as soon as practicable," he said.

AAP mb/cdh

KEYWORD: BOAT HUNGER UPDATE

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