Mass hunger strike on Nauru; Internet cut off

A mass hunger strike by asylum seekers of all nationalities has begun on Nauru. Outraged by the attempted suicide and self-harm incidents late yesterday afternoon, a united camp decided to begin an “unlimited” hunger strike from breakfast this morning (Thursday, 1 November).

The asylum seekers’ statement, from yesterday, 31 October, outlining the attempted suicide incident and their declaration of the hunger strike can be seen below.

Asylum seekers on Nauru told the Refugee Action Coalition that their central demands are (i) to be taken back to Australia and (ii) for their refuge processing to begin immediately.

“We are not criminals, ” said the asylum seeker, “We did nothing wrong. We did not come to Nauru. We came to Australia for protection.”

The asylum seekers also reported that their access to the internet has been cut off and they fear that Immigration may cut off their phones to prevent news of the hunger strike getting to the outside world.

“There is an explosive situation on Nauru, ” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition. “The government has created an intolerable situation on Nauru. Asylum seekers have been left with no idea when their claims will be processed and what will be their ultimate fate. They have no choice but to protest.

“The government can cut of the internet but the truth about the hell-hole that they have created on Nauru is already international news. It is only a matter of time before similar protests begin among the thousands of asylum seekers in Australian detention centre that have also been left in limbo and denied processing.

For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713

Statements from the asylum seekers on Nauru:

ANOTHER SUICIDE ATTEMPT IN NAURU

Today on 31/10/2012 one of the asylum seeker in Nauru attempt suicide and he was near to die.

One of the asylum seeker climbed on electric poll and was trying to hang himself from the Poll. Other asylum seekers started crying and requesting him to come down please, he was not ready to come down saying that he is tired here in worst condition of Nauru Hell, he want to die. He was on electric poll for 20 minutes, but we did not see any help from the Wilson security to rescue him.

All the asylum seekers were crying to Wilson security to please help him but they were only looking the scene. while seeing the satiuation few of the asylum seekers started harming themselves and were crying again and again. Finally asylum seeker on poll hanged himself with bedsheet when he came down side another asylum seeker pulled his leg up and the Wilson security guard tore the bedsheet.

During this incident one another asylum seeker have been punched by Nauruan Sterling security guard, the asylum seeker lost his three teeths. We the asylum seekers in Nauru request to PM Julia Gilliard, MPs and Australian society to save our lives and future means to take us back to Australia and start our process as soon as possible.

31/10/2012

WE ASYLUM SEEKERS IN NAURU PLANNED TO START A HNGER STRIKE FROM 1/11/2012 TO UNKNOWN TIME

We asylum seekers in Nauru planned to start a hunger strike from 1/09/2012 for unknown time, this is a clear message that we are not happy here, we want to go back from this Hell to Australia and we request to the Australia government to start our processing.

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