Sri Lankan detainees refusing food until UNHCR visits them

PONTIAN: At least six Sri Lankans, including a woman, are believed to have gone on a hunger strike for more than a week at the Pekan Nenas immigration detention centre.
The detainees were among 108 Sri Lankans placed in the centre after they were detained for being without proper documents at a hotel here last month.
Persatuan Persahabatan Sempa- ruthi, a Johor-based non-government organisation, had been in touch with the detainees on hunger strike.
The organisation’s coodinator, E. Silvarajah, 60, said those on hunger strike were determined to refuse food until officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) visited them to determine their status.
He added that those on hunger strike claimed they had documents from the UNHCR after they left Sri Lanka due to the fighting over there.
UNHCR external relations officer Yante Ismail said the case was under investigation.
“We are also working closely with the Malaysian authorities for the release of the Sri Lankan asylum-seekers and refugees there.
“We are currently finalising certain administrative details before the release can be secured,” she said.
Meanwhile, Suhakam commissioner Datuk N. Siva Subrama- niam said the latest incident involving Sri Lankans on hunger strike was gaining a lot of attention overseas especially on human rights issues.
“The Government should avoid unnecessary attention and release those with UNHCR cards as a gesture of good will,” he said, hoping that the Home Minister would look into the problem.