Refugee Action Coalition Statement July 20th 2011 After seven days, the roof top protest by five asylum seekers at Darwin detention centre ended this morning (Wednesday 20 July), after Immigration officials spoke again to the protesters.
Three of the protesters left the roof last night but the remaining two only came down around midday Darwin time. All the detainees, two Iraqis and three Ahwazi Arabs, have been waiting months for answers to their appeals.
Immigration officials have told the detainees that there have been 40 visas issued at the Darwin detention centre this week. But asylum seekers inside the detention centre say they don’t believe immigration officials any more. “They say there are 40 but we don’t see them,” said one asylum seeker.
Another refugee told the Refugee Action Coalition, “They have told us that things will change, but we have been told before. Now we only hope.”