Asylum seekers on Christmas Island have gone on hunger strike in protest at the death of Reza Barati, the 23 year old Iranian killed on Manus Island during unrest last week. A group of around 40 people, including women and teenagers, began a hunger strike around two days ago, according to two asylum seekers who contacted Guardian Australia. A representative from Darwin Asylum Seeker Support and Advocacy Network (Dassan) confirmed it had been told by three separate groups of asylum seekers on Christmas Island that a hunger strike had begun. When asked why they were striking, one asylum seeker told Guardian Australia it was over “Reza Barati’s blood”. He added: “We have three reasons. We don’t want anyone to go to Nauru; Reza Barati’s blood - we don’t know who killed him; and freedom.” The asylum seekers said that around 100 asylum seekers, housed in the Construction Camp section of the Christmas Island detention centre, were meeting for protests every evening. A source on Christmas Island also said that the two transfers of unaccompanied minors from Christmas Island to Nauru had begun two weeks ago. This involved mainly Afghan boys. It is unknown which detention centre on Nauru the minors have been sent to. The immigration department has been contacted for comment but has yet to respond.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 13:56:29 +0000
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