Thursday, December 9, 2004

Detainees urged to abandon rooftop protest!

A refugee advocate has pleaded to a group of Baxter detainees to abandon their rooftop protest.

One has been on the roof of the gymnasium since Sunday, with three more joining him on Tuesday.

Kathy Verran from Rural Australians for Refugees, says one of the men has since come down and has been taken into the management unit. [solitary confinement for Xmas?]

Ms Verran says the others are now worried that they will be punished if they come down but she fears for their safety if they stay on the roof.

"We worry about them a lot and worry about their welfare and we really don't want to see anybody die," she said.

By End Indefinite Detention 9 December 04

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