Eleven Sinhalese asylum seekers have entered their third day of hunger strike at the Curtin detention centre.
The eleven are also sleeping outside their rooms to maintain their collective protest.
The eleven are protesting at the long delays in processing of their claims and the similarly unexplained delay for them to be released on bridging visas. One of the hunger strikers has been in detention for five years.
Hundreds of other asylum seekers in similar circumstances have been released on bridging visas, but scores have been left behind. Even some asylum seekers recently screened in because of the Immigration department’s data breach earlier this year have been released on bridging visas.
“Where is the fairness?” said one of the hunger strikers from Curtin, “ There are no black marks against our names. Why are our cases dragging on? We also should have been released.”
The asylum seekers have been asking their case managers to explain why some people are getting bridging visas, while they are kept waiting for months and years.
“Our case managers are refusing to see us,” the Refugee Action Coalition, was told by one asylum seeker from inside the detention centre. “We believe that they know the reasons why are waiting so long but they refuse to contact us,” he said.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
Protest alert:
Refugee supporters will hold a protest at the Sydney Immigration Department offices, Lee Street, City, Friday 8 August, 12.30pm, to highlight the hijacking of the 157 Tamil asylum seekers taken to Nauru, the horrors of detention revealed in the Human Rights Commission inquiry and by the hunger strikers in Curtin.
Speakers will include: John Kaye, Greens MLC NSW; Michael Dudley (chairperson Suicide Prevention Australia and psychiatrist experienced in detention and mental health) and Tamil community representatives.
