Yongah Hill Detention Centre detainees go on hunger strike to protest

More than 100 people are on a hunger strike at an immigration detention centre north-east of Perth.

As many as 120 detainees at the Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre are reportedly refusing to eat to protest against what they have labelled “breaches of our human rights”.

A document sent to the Department of Home Affairs, and supplied to PerthNow, highlights 10 points detainees want to address, including the use of restraints during relocation and “unreasonable” delays in returning people who accept deportation.

They argue many detainees who have no criminal or migration matters pending have been left in limbo, and that there have been lengthy delays releasing detainees who have had successful judicial reviews.

A detainee, who asked not to be named, said: “We’ve come together to shine the light on what’s going on in this punitive system, for everyone to realise that this is unjust and frankly enough is enough”.

Another, shown speaking on video recorded from inside the centre, said the “conditions are unfair”.

“All guys are in the same boat. We’re all kept away from our families and we think the government owe us an explanation of why cases are taking so long,” he said.

“There’s guys who have been sitting here three or four years. That is just unheard of.”

The peaceful protest reportedly began 43 days ago on January 14, following similar action in Sydney and Melbourne.

It is understood many have undertaken a soft protest, eating intermittently.

The Australian Border Force directed PerthNow to a statement it issued earlier this month, where it said those refusing to attend regular meal services were being “closely monitored”.

“Additional food and water, including fresh fruit and vegetables, are being provided throughout centres for those detainees who do not wish to attend regular meal times,” the ABF said.

“Bread, noodles and all day breakfast are available in compounds on a 24/7 basis.”

The ABF said it was holding regular meetings with protest organisers both “to discuss their concerns and to encourage them to return to regular meal times”.

“We continue to discuss facilities, policies and procedures with detainees, but our priority must remain the safety and security of our centres for detainees, staff, visitors and the community,” it said.

“As publicly stated previously, we strongly refute claims that conditions in immigration detention facilities are inhumane or brutal.”

It argued the time an inmate spends in immigration detention depends on a range of factors, “including the complexity of their case, the legal processes they pursue and whether they voluntarily choose to leave Australia”.

“Individuals whose visas have expired or been cancelled, and who have exhausted all options to stay in Australia, are encouraged to leave Australia,” it said.
“There is no requirement for them to remain in detention in Australia.

“We continue to work with those detainees who wish to return home, to facilitate their travel.”