PM urged to act on Woomera

From AAP

23jan02

LAWYERS for detainees at the Woomera Detention Centre have urged Prime Minister John Howard to intervene over the handling of on-going protests.

Lawyer Paul Boylan said Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock did not have the ability to deal with the escalation of protests in centres such as Woomera, and that Mr Howard should step in.

"It seems to me that ... these violent or serious peaceful protest activities especially at Woomera have continued and escalated," he told the Seven Network's Sunrise program.

"I don't think that Mr Ruddock has an ability to deal with it, he doesn't show the leadership qualities and I think it's time for our leaders, for John Howard and (deputy prime minister) John Anderson, to come into this situation and show true leadership in relation to the detainees, their human rights and our relationship with the international community."

Seven Woomera detainees were rushed to hospital overnight after swallowing toxic substances, and more than 200 remain on a hunger strike over the processing of visa applications.

Mr Boylan denied claims by Mr Ruddock that advocates of the detainees were not discouraging their behaviour, saying lawyers were advising them to stop the hunger strike.

"We can't see that there'll be a benefit that someone suffering permanent physical injury or dying because of the hunger strike or the self-mutilation," he said.

"However, we'll advise the detainees, we won't tell them what to do.

"I don't know how Mr Ruddock knows that, it doesn't follow that simply because the activity is still going on that advocates aren't discouraging it.

"We're advising them as to what we believe the possible outcomes would be of the various activities they are engaged in or might engage in."

The detainees were continuing their protest actions because they were afraid they would die in the centre, Mr Boylan said.

"They really fear that they will die behind the wire here," he said.

"They feel that they have no alternative."