Detained Lankans in Malaysia threaten hunger strike
May 25, 2010 11:28 am
The 75 Lankan Tamil asylum seekers, were detained by Malaysian authorities a month ago, have threatened to go on an indefinite hunger strike beginning Tuesday.
Sri Lanka Tamil Refugees Humanitarian Programme coordinator Eashvara Lingam said the group would go on strike unless the Malaysian government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) fulfill their demands to be sent to a third country without further delay.
“They also demand for them not to be forcibly sent back to
Eashvara said he had also received reports from the detainees that they were not getting clean water, and supplied with only low quality and stale food.
“However, they appreciate the Malaysian authorities for saving them from the sea,” he said.