New hunger strike over delay in deportations
By BEGENA GEORGE
Published: 20 November 2006
A group of detainees waiting to be deported after serving prison sentences are staging a second hunger strike from today.
Twenty Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi detainees staged a brief hunger strike at the Hidd detention centre on November 12, to protest over delays in sending them home.
They vowed on Saturday to begin a second strike from 2pm yesterday, if promises to send them home quickly were not met.
The prisoners say they waited till yesterday for a response and when they had not heard from any officials about their issue being resolved they decided to resume the strike, but put it off until today.
New hunger strike over delay in deportations
By BEGENA GEORGE
Published: 20 November 2006
A group of detainees waiting to be deported after serving prison sentences are staging a second hunger strike from today.
Twenty Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi detainees staged a brief hunger strike at the Hidd detention centre on November 12, to protest over delays in sending them home.
They vowed on Saturday to begin a second strike from 2pm yesterday, if promises to send them home quickly were not met.
The prisoners say they waited till yesterday for a response and when they had not heard from any officials about their issue being resolved they decided to resume the strike, but put it off until today.
They said they would not touch a drop of food or water from 6am today, until arrangements are being made to send them home.
Indian embassy officials along with community social workers will be visiting the centre today.
Migrant Workers Protection Society action committee head Marietta Dias said the society was following up the case and that the detainees must be patient.
The men claim they have been languishing in the detention centre for up to a year, since finishing jail sentences.
Officials from their respective embassies say they are doing all they can, but that some of the men do not have passports or other papers, or still have civil legal cases against them, such as for unpaid debts.
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