Hi Martin
They are all Afghan refugees at the Woomera detention centre (in the
middle of the desert), the site of many riots by detainees, and their
protest was sparked by the government ceasing to process Afghani
claims since the fall of the Taliban. There are 189 refugees on
hungerstrike, including 24 children (11 of whom are unaccompanied
minors) and 55 have sewn their lips together, though it seems earlier
70 people had done so, and presumably have been unsewn, whether
voluntarily or not hasn't been said.
The asylum seekers issued a statement that their action is no longer
about visas but about "freedom and basic human rights". I guess the
extremity of the protest is a measure of their desperation. The
immigration minister Mr Ruddock says they can just "all go home".
Best
Alison
>I just got back from a nice Renaissance concert & an Indian meal. I wish I
>hadn't read your mail about sewn-up lips, Alison. But now I know: any idea
>why they chose this form of protest?
>Martin
--
Alison Croggon
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