Afghan Immigrant in Tanjungpinang on Hunger Strike

Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands - About 160 immigrants from Afghanistan have been on hunger strike at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center for the past two weeks. "This morning, 12 immigrants were rushed to a hospital as they got unconscious," Head of the Tanjungpinang Immigration Detention Center M Yunus Junaid said here on Friday. Two weeks ago, 15 immigrants from Afghanistan and three from Myanmar were admitted to hospital after they became weak and dehydrated because of the hunger strike. More immigrants are expected to collapse and need to be taken to hospital as they continue their hunger strike. The local authorities have tried to persuade them to stop the strike and have tightened supervision. "According to the procedure, they must get medical check-up if they don't eat for 24 hours, but they refuse medical help," Yunus stated. The immigrants are on hunger strike in a bid to get the United Nations to deal with their immigration status and take them to Australia, their final destination. Most of the immigrants have been detained in Indonesia for the past one or two years. (*)