Fed: Hunger strikers warned not to involve children = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2003
Fed: Hunger strikers warned not to involve children = 2

Refugee advocates said the suggestion asylum seekers were urging children to join the
hunger strike should be treated with skepticism.

Greg Barns, spokesman for A Just Australia which is an umbrella body for refugee groups,
said the federal government's track record of telling the truth when it came to asylum
seekers meant it could not be trusted.

"Claims by IOM that children are being forced into hunger strikes on Nauru should be
treated with skepticism," he said.

"Given the children overboard affair and the Siev X, the Australian government and
its contractors have a bad track record when it comes to telling the truth about asylum
seekers.

"The only way in which these claims can be tested is if the Australian media is allowed
access to Nauru so that the truth can emerge."

AAP sm/sb/jv/jlw

KEYWORD: DETENTION IOM 2 CANBERRA (REOPENS)

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