AUSTRALIA: The Australian government yesterday dismissed reports that a group of unaccompanied children detained at the Woomera Detention Centre in south Australia have entered into a suicide pact if they are not released.
And in a separate development yesterday, a journalist working for ABC radio was arrested after refusing to obey a ban on reporters going to within 200 metres of the perimeter fence of the Woomera centre, where almost 300 mainly Afghan refugees are now into their 13th day of hunger strike.
The new restrictions on reporters are aimed at preventing detainees shouting messages to the media assembled outside.
More than 60 of those on hunger strike in Woomera have sewn their lips together as part of the protest which is aimed at forcing the Australian government to speed up the visa application process or return the detainees to their countries of origin. Some of those held have been waiting over two years.
Lawyers for 15 unaccompanied children held at the Woomera Detention Centre in the south Australian desert say the children are so depressed and desperate to leave that they have entered into a pact and vowed to take their own lives if they are not released.
Mr Rob McDonald, of the Woomera legal group representing the children, all aged between 12 and 17, said the youngsters had informed him of their plan during a meeting yesterday.
"They want to get out the facility," Mr McDonald said yesterday.
"These guys feel this is the only thing they can do to get out of the facility." Mr McDonald said some of the children who had told him they would commit suicide had been granted temporary protection visas, but were still waiting to be released from Woomera.
He said the children felt isolated from the rest of the asylum-seekers because of their age. There were reports that the children may be about to go ahead with their plan as early as today.
But the Australian Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, and the Immigration Minister, Mr Philip Ruddock, dismissed the reports.
Before leaving for the US, Mr Howard said the ongoing protests and the threatened suicide pact would not bring about any softening of Australia's tough refugee policy.
"People . . . in particular circumstances, often make threats and I think it's important people in my position understand that," he said.
"The policy of making it plain that Australia is not an easy touch in relation to illegal immigration, I think, has had some success."