Statement of the Villawood Hunger Strikers

Posted at the request of the Chinese hunger strikers in Villawood, on strike since 19 October

Statement:

(translated from Chinese)

We are six hunger strikers from Villawood Immigration Detention Centre (VIDC) in Sydney, Australia. In order to protest against the compulsory detention policy and mental and physical impairment caused by the long-term detention in VIDC, during which many people have suffered from long-term insomnia, dysphoria, and even mental breakdown, six of us detainees started the hunger strike on 19th October, 2005.

Six of us all came from the mainland China, among us five people are seeking refugee status while another person is asking for family reunion.

We were persecuted by the communist regime in our own country where people lost their fundamental freedom, human rights, democratic rights and rule of law. We were forced to flee from China to come to Australia where people enjoy their fundamental freedom, human rights, democratic rights and rule of law.

Like newly born babies, we are seeking protection here in a democracy. But due to the inadequacy of the detention policy in Australia, we were forced to lose our freedom again and may, at any moment, be deported back to China and face severe persecution again.

Our hearts are bleeding

Is it that hard for us to live as a normal human being? Is it that hard for us to be treated like the staying Chinese after the Tiananmen Square Massacre?

Has the communist regime in China returned us the fundamental rights of freedom, human rights and democratic rights? Has the rule of law become dominant in China now?

Has the Chinese Communist Party stopped persecution against political dissidents, "underground churches" and Falun Gong?

All the above questions explain themselves, and certainly do not need our explanations.

Hereby we solemnly declared that we request the Australian Government to provide us the refugee status, family reunion and humanitarian refuge. It is also the aspirations of all the detainees at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, Sydney.

Australian people, we need your help!

From six hunger strikers in Villawood Immigration Detention Centre, Sydney 30th October, 2005

Villawood detainees go on hunger strike

A refugee advocacy group says up to 200 detainees at the Villawood Detention Centre, in Sydney, have begun a hunger strike to draw attention to their situation ahead of the federal election.

By Chinese hunger strikers in Villawood posted 2 November 05

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The hospital says one woman has been admitted for observation and the rest of the detainees have been returned to the detention centre.

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By Injustice posted 19 June 05

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Australia's "GITMO" System In June 2002, [war criminal], Philip Ruddock, is quoted as saying: "Well, let me just say, detention centres are not prisons. They are administrative detention.

[But they are treated like prisoners so they're prisoners.]

Ruddock: They're conducted in quite a different way. [?] " Detainees, [prisoners], at Baxter report on a new regime instituted by Global Solutions Limited (GSL). Its purpose is to "teach you detainees, [prisoners], to be respectful in the Australian way". [?]

When a guard decides that a person is "not respectful" or has committed a punishable offence that person is removed to Management (MU). After an interval of GSL's choosing, the person is then taken to REDGUM (previously called RED1) where they enter a four-stage program.

[Solitary Confinement or Segregation?]

STAGE ONE - Person locked in a room alone for all but 4 hours per day

- Allowed 1 phone call per day and 1 visit per week - Duration 1 week

STAGE TWO - Person locked up for all but 6 hours per day

- Allowed 2 phone calls per day and 1 visit per week - Duration 1 week

STAGE THREE - Allowed out of room from 8am until 11pm

- Phone open. 3 visits per week - Duration 2 weeks

STAGE FOUR - Allowed out 8am until 11pm

- Allowed 5 visits. Duration 4 weeks. Meals must be taken in time out of room No food allowed in room

At the end of this time if all conditions have been satisfied the person is allowed to return to their old compound. This snakes and ladders game has conditions which mean that failure, misdemeanour can send the participant back to Stage One at any time to begin the climb to freedom all over again.

"M" who is currently undergoing the regime with several others reports that they did not take into account the 5 days he spent in MU with no clothes but a short white gown, no bedding only a mattress, no towels. The camera is trained on the shower so he went without rather than have the guards watch him naked.

One guard felt sorry for him and gave him a blanket. During this time he was taken to Adelaide for a doctors visit. He was handcuffed with heavy metal cuffs all day. During the interview with the psychiatrist he was also handcuffed.

The reason for his 9-week 'sentence' is as follows. He has been flown around the country on a failed deportation operation. When he left Villawood, his possessions were not sent with him and were subsequently lost. He was transferred from Perth IDC in January to Baxter and despite frequent requests his new possessions have been left in Perth and people there have taken them.

All he has in the world is a TV, a Video, Clock, Sunglasses, Fish Tank with special fish, a "beautiful plant" given to him for his birthday, Antenna, 2 extension leads and 1 power board. Friends brought him videos regularly so he could forget detention for a little while and keep sane.

He became frustrated with the constant ignoring of requests for his property and so he threw some small sachets of sugar on the floor in the kitchen! For this heinous crime he has been sentenced to an Australian training in "Showing Respect".

Who decides the crime? Who decides the punishment? No appeal process. No transparency. GSL is Judge, Jury and JAILER.

Is this Administrative Detention? RING, WRITE (FAX) & EMAIL MINISTER VANSTONE'S OFFICE demanding the release of, [Prisoners], in M/U and Redgum - this is not administrative detention. [NOTE: We think FAX is the most effective method]

Minister for Immigration and Multicultural & Indigenous Affairs Senator Amanda Vanstone Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Fax: 02 6273 4144 Salutation: Dear Minister.

By Pamela Curr ASRC Campaign Coordinator posted 15 June 04

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