Fed: Govt investigates reports of children hunger strikers

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2003
Fed: Govt investigates reports of children hunger strikers

The federal government says it's looking into reports that children have been encouraged
to join a hunger strike by asylum seekers on Nauru.

Prime Minister JOHN HOWARD says he's having the reports investigated.

The International Organisation for Migration has told the hunger strikers on the Pacific
island not to allow children to become involved.

But Hazara Ethnic Society of Australia president HASSAN GHULAM says experience from
Australian detention centres suggests children may take the initiative themselves.

Meanwhile, the Afghan ambassador to Australia has called on the Afghans who account
for most of the hunger strikers, to abandon their protest.

More than 280 asylum seekers, including 93 children, are being processed on Nauru as
part of the federal government's so-called Pacific Solution.

AAP RTV rmg/sb/wz/rp/rd/psm/

KEYWORD: DETENTION (CANBERRA)

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