Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone says women and children are sitting in on a hunger strike at the Nauru detention centre, but are not participating.But Senator Vanstone says staff at the centre say they fear the strike will spread. [?]
The International Organisation for Migration has alleged some of the detainees taking part in the hunger strike have attempted to get children involved.[?]
The group representing the asylum seekers on Nauru has denied women and children have joined the strike and says they have not been asked to take part.
[In other words "A" typical fear-mongering by Vanstone like kids overboard to gain some political leveraged!]
Senator Vanstone says staff have overheard remarks that women and children might join the strike. "A number of employees at the processing centre have overheard remarks to the effect that perhaps the women and children will be next," she said. [Just plain rubbish!]
Senator Vanstone says she has no advice as to why the comments were made, but the IOM is doing everything possible to protect the detainees.
There are 35 people at the centre now taking part in the hunger strike that began nine days ago.
[War criminal], Prime Minister John Howard has ordered an investigation into claims and will not comment until it is complete. [? because he's the instigator of the nonsense!]
Labor leader Mark Latham is waiting for more information. [Another goose?]
But he has used the claims to renew his pitch for all children to be out of detention before Christmas.
"In a civilised society children shouldn't be growing up behind barbed wire," he said.
Labor says it has been seeking an urgent meeting with the Government about the situation on Nauru for over a week. [? Me too!]
By Paramount Welfare 18 December 03
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