Posted on 12/21/2004 6:21:20 PM PST by Piefloater
AUSTRALIAN Democrats senator Andrew Bartlett will end his five-day hunger strike at a protest outside the Immigration Department offices in Brisbane today.
Senator Bartlett has been fasting since Friday night in a show of support for asylum seekers refusing food at the Baxter immigration detention centre in South Australia's north.
About 20 detainees have been involved in a hunger strike for two weeks.
Senator Bartlett, who said he had no energy left, said other people would take over his fasting as part of an ongoing "rolling strike" into the new year, with each person fasting for a maximum of three days.
"It shouldn't need actions like this to draw attention to such disgraceful abuses of our rights and freedoms," Senator Bartlett said.
"However, after battling hard all year with limited success to get action and attention on the trauma being inflicted on these people, the fact is that this action has generated far more attention on the issue."
Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone labelled Senator Bartlett silly and foolish, saying it was irresponsible for a member of parliament to set an example that could result in serious health problems.
Today's protest was scheduled to start at 12.30pm (AEST).
Is it just me or does this sound ridiculous to anyone else? Maybe they should just cut it down to four hour "rolling hunger strikes".
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