Ten hunger strikers vow to continue

AN “explosive situation” is developing at a detention centre for illegal immigrants as 10 detainees continue their hunger strike, campaigners warned yesterday.

Detainees angry at having to wait long periods for the outcome of their asylum claims and at cuts made by an American firm which took over running the centre at Campsfield, north of Oxford, two weeks ago, staged a yard occupation on Thursday night. On Monday, a Somali detainee staged a day-long roof protest and threatened to kill himself.

One hunger striker said that guards themselves are close to mutiny, telling detainees that unless they are paid more they will resign within two weeks.

Nigerian Antony Aghayere, 36, said detainees were treated “like dogs” and tensions were rising. He added: “Things are getting worse. Normally it’s calm but now we have got different people from different countries coming here, and have racial issues, and [there are] fights. Every day it’s rice. When the new company came in they introduced all these strange new rules and people have nothing to do so they go around winding each other up.”

Aghayere said since American firm GEO took over, educational classes had been cut from five days a week to three . The movies channel has been switched off and newspapers have been limited.

He said he that guards had persuaded many to stop refusing food by paying them with shop vouchers, but he would continue his strike.

He said: “If they try and move me to another centre I will cut myself. I think I will be moved because of the hunger strike. I will strike for as long as it takes to hear my case. I am prepared to give up my life. After what I have been through this is minor.”

Bob Hughes, spokesman for the Campaign to Close Campsfield group, said that the authorities are “playing with dynamite”.

He added: “The GEO approach is to oppress people and I rather think the staff are disaffected as well.”

Source: Soctsman.com, June 18, 2006