Update: While the majority of those on the mass hunger strike on Nauru ended their protest today – five Iranian asylum seekers have continued, as well as the Iranian man on his 33rd day of protest.
A number of Hindu Tamils who have been on hunger strike will also be observing a religious six day fast.
The other hunger strikers ended their protest this morning, Tuesday (13 November) morning. Despite the end of the hunger strike, one asylum seeker said, “Our peaceful protest will continue, to close Nauru, for us to be brought back to Australia and for us to be processed.”
Much hope is being placed in the announcement that an Amnesty International delegation will visit Nauru on 19 November.
It is understood that the Iranian man who for whom Tuesday is his 33rd day of hunger strike is continuing his protest.
Asylum seekers remain angry at the way those responsible for the camp constantly tried to undermine their protest. In one the last attempts to intimidate the hunger strikers, on Monday afternoon, the health provider IHMS continued the harassment of the protesters by distributing a leaflet outlining a long list of the progressive physical damage that a hunger strike can cause.
Concerns remain at the inability of the facilities to cope with the situation. On Monday, one asylum seeker stripped and staged a naked protest for two hours because the medical centre had refused to give him pain relief for severe toothache.
Despite the fact that 23 more asylum seekers were send to Nauru on Monday there has been no expansion of the facilities in the camp.
There are other cases of problems with the medical centre. An asylum seeker given 8mls of ear drops for ear pain on 21 October was told to use it for two weeks, but they lasted only four days. When the man asked for more drops, he was informed that there was only one bottle. He has waited from 25 October until now for more treatment.
“It remains urgent for the Minister to intervene,” said Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition, “The hunger strike has exposed the intolerable conditions on Nauru, and the fraud of off-shore processing. The physical condition for the Iranian man on long term hunger strike deteriorates day by day.
“Almost 7000 asylum seekers have arrived in Australia since 13 August and the start of Labor’s Pacific Solution 2.0. Nauru has become a monument to the inhumanity of off-shore processing. People desperate to find safety and security have been cruelly treated.”
A statement from the asylum seekers issued on Monday, before the end of the hunger strike is below.
For more information contact Ian Rintoul 0417 275 713
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
The government and people of Australia.
Today, 12/11/2012 is our 12th day of hunger strike.
25 more asylum seekers have been brought to the Nauru Hell by force and fraud when they saw the worst condition of the detention centre they have also joined the hunger strike.
One another asylum seeker is suffering from the severe tooth pain, for one week. Instead of giving him medical treatment; they called Nauru police, now he is not thinking properly and he has gone naked himself in the whole camp.
We have seen four asylum seekers that have made imaginary graves for themselves because of losing their mental health. The purpose of the hunger strike is not to give us facilities here in Nauru Hell; we want to be shifted from this Hell Hole to Australia and our cases should be started immediately.
In this modern period no body would keep a domestic animal in tent at a temperature of 42 Celsius for a day but unfortunately human beings are living in Nauru Hell in such bad conditions.
In short period we have seen asylum seekers attempting suicide, self-harming, becoming mentally disturbed, stressed, as well as protests and hunger strikes. So what will be result in the future?
We request to the government and people of Australia save our lives and future.
Regards Asylum seeker in Nauru