Up to 700 asylum seekers are now on hunger strike on Manus Island. Noisy protests continued into the night at Delta compound despite the fact that no water had been delivered to the compound and asylum seekers had to burrow under the perimeter fence to reach bottled water left outside the compound fence.
But on Saturday, more than 200 asylum seekers were taken to the medical centre for treatment after collapsing in their compounds.
At times asylum seekers have been left lying unconscious in their compounds or left the ground outside the make-shift field clinic because there are not enough stretchers or mattresses for the numbers requiring treatment.
Another two people swallowed washing powder in the early hours of this morning.
Two supposedly ‘ring-leaders’ have also been taken into the notorious isolation unit Chauka.
A letter (attached, and text below) signed by over 80 asylum seekers in Foxtrot Compound has spelled out their fears about resettlement in PNG.
“As the asylum seekers’ letter says, there is a disaster happening on Manus Island. The real fears of the asylum seekers can’t be ignored. There is no viable prospect for refugees to be resettled in PNG. The first step is to stop the forced removal of refugees to insecure temporary housing on 22 January,” said Ian Rintoul, spokesperson for the Refugee Action Coalition.
“There needs to be urgent discussions about possible third country resettlement. The asylum seekers are asking for the UNHCR to be involved with resettlement discussions. The ball is in the Minister’s court. He can keep pretending that the protests aren’t happening or he can act to prevent the unfolding disaster.”
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
Foxtrot letter:
To whom it may concern:
It is been a week that hundreds of asylum seekers of Australia are on hunger and water and it is because of 18 months of indefinite detention without any clear future in Manus Island.
Here a disaster is about to happen, please prevent this disaster. The Australian government is planning to resettle us in PNG against our will, by forcing us.
We are not willing to be resettled in PNG because there is no safety [or] any future for us and our family.
Today we consider us to be hostage for the Australian government so they can deter others not to come to Australia.
