As many as 500 asylum seekers are on hunger strike in Manus Island detention centre and a further 20 of them have reportedly sewn their lips shut in protest at their living conditions, according to the latest reports.
In another act of protest, an Egyptian Christian man swallowed razor blades and collapsed, reported the Guardian, as up to half of the detention centre’s population were refusing all food and water.
One of those being detained told the Guardian,
“Frustrated refugees are tired of being mistreated and not heard after 18 months in inhumane detention [and have] decided to act for the last time.”
The detainee went on to add,
“Their previous peaceful demonstration ended up with the murder of an Iranian asylum seeker and over 70 casualties containing one being shot and two lost eyes by Australian government. This time ... all strikers prepared themselves for death … this kind of death so much honourable than to be killed in PNG.”
See footage smuggled from inside Manus Island detention below.