FED:Malaysia-bound deportees on hunger strike

AAP General News (Australia)
08-06-2011
FED:Malaysia-bound deportees on hunger strike

SYDNEY, Aug 6 AAP - The first group of asylum seekers due to be deported to Malaysia
have called for help and are starting a hunger strike, refugee advocates say.

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

It includes 18 minors or people claiming to be minors. Up to 14 of them are unaccompanied.

Refugee Action Coalition spokesman Ian Rintoul said advocates received a distress call
from one of the asylum seekers 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.

He called on the federal government to give the group access to lawyers.

"The cry for help is clear enough. If the government has nothing to hide, then it will
allow lawyers to contact them," he said.

"The asylum seekers have committed no crime but are effectively being held incommunicado.

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

AAP ih/rs

KEYWORD: BOAT HUNGER

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