Statement of the Chinese hunger strikers in Villawood, Australia

indonesia / philippines / australia | migration / racism | news report Friday November 04, 2005 08:02 by Chinese hunger strikers

Protesting compulsory detention policy of migrants seeking refugee status

Tuesday November 01, 2005 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