Friday, March 12, 2010

By ERIC JOHNSTON

Staff writer

OSAKA — At least 70 detainees at the West Japan Immigration Control Center, which has long been criticized by human rights groups and Diet members, have been on a hunger strike since Monday, center officials and volunteers helping them confirmed Thursday.

"Around 70 foreigners began a hunger strike Monday night because they want to be released on a temporary basis," Norifumi Kishida, an official at the center, said Thursday morning. The center, in Ibaraki, Osaka Prefecture, is providing food but they are refusing to eat, he said.

Hiromi Sano, a human rights activist involved with immigration issues who has been meeting with detainees over the past few days, said some hunger strikers have applied for refugee status.

"They are demanding to know why their applications for release from the center were rejected, even though their refugee claims are being reviewed administratively or judicially, with support from lawyers and legal assistance workers," she said.

Sano said she has brought bananas for the detainees and some of those feeling weak have eaten them. Whether others had any food, which may have been provided by outside supporters, is not confirmed.

Sano also said she was told by detainees that on Monday, about 40 refused to go into their rooms and demanded to speak to the head of the center. When they were refused, they allegedly locked themselves in a shower room, saying they would not come out unless a meeting was arranged.

Sano was told that at around 5 p.m. Monday, about 40 officials used a chain saw to open the door, and five detainees were in solitary confinement as of Thursday.

"In addition, I was told by detainees (that they) are not receiving proper medical treatment and that one man, from Myanmar, collapsed, is seriously ill and needs medical treatment, but was only given aspirin," she said.

Kishida declined comment on whether officials used a chain saw to open the door, and said if any detainee requests medical assistance, the center will provide it. The center has medical facilities.

Reports of detainee abuse and harsh conditions at the West Japan Immigration Control Center go back at least a decade. According to an investigation by Kyodo News, 23 detainees at the center had attempted suicide between 2000 and 2004.

A report on claims by detainees that they had been abused by security guards at the immigration control center was carried on the Community Page of The Japan Times on Tuesday (Wednesday in some parts of Japan).

See related stories:
Detainees allege abuse at Kansai holding center

We welcome your opinions. Click to send a message to the editor.