Australian illegal immigrants end hunger strike

A group of illegal immigrants protesting over Australia's refusal to grant them asylum ended a 16-day hunger strike at the remote…

A group of illegal immigrants protesting over Australia's refusal to grant them asylum ended a 16-day hunger strike at the remote Woomera detention centre today.

The protest ended as South Australian state government child protection officials visited the outback compound for the second time in a fortnight to investigate child safety concerns.

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They have made their point
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Mr Jeremy Moore, the illegal immigrants' lawyer

The detainees, from Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East, are almost all rejected asylum-seekers in various stages of appealing against the refugee tribunal's refusal to grant them visas.

Woomera has been the scene of numerous riots, hunger strikes and protests involving self mutilation by detainees over the Australian government's hardline policy of mandatory detention for all illegal immigrants.

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Mr Jeremy Moore, the immigrants' lawyer, said the detainees, who had vowed to starve themselves to death unless the government reconsidered their visa applications, had changed their mind and decided on to resume eating.

He said that all 198 asylum seekers at Woomera had marked National Hunger Strike Day on Monday by fasting, while up to 120 had participated in the 16-day hunger strike.

But he denied it was a victory for the government.

"It's pretty hard to maintain a hunger strike for as long as they have, and to see their children suffering and their children watching their parents to be involved in the hunger strike and some of the children were involved as well," he said.

He insisted "they have made their point."

AFP