However look at the shoe shiners.
You telling me that the Sudanese and Afghans are mingling in Melbourne? Strange because I lived in an Aussie suburb and I never saw them......

Ten detainees have sewn their lips shut at Christmas Island detention centre, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen has confirmed.

“This is distressing for me and most of the Australian people, he said in Sydney today.

Mr Bowen confirmed that 160 people were engaged in a peaceful protest and 10 of whom have sewn shut their lips.

He said they had declined medical and psychological assistance.

Mr Bowen warned the protesters their actions would be futile.

“Applications to come and stay in Australia are dealt on their merit. They cannot and will not be changed by any protests,” he said.

“A protest such as this will not achieve the desired outcome.”

Mr Bowen said he had no plans to visit the centre outside of regular scheduled visits.

“I would like to express my support for the staff at Christmas Island and the Government stands with them on this matter.

“I think we can expect more tension at our detention centres as our recognition rates continue to fall,” he said.

“Where we have people who are making an application to stay in Australia, we can expect them to become frustrated.

“We can expect them to continue making protests to say that they wish to stay in Australia, that they wish their refugee application to be approved.”

Mr Bowen said the detainees who had sewn their lips were taking water and sugar, and that the Government would not allow any fatalities.

“We have the power to intervene if necessary,” he said.

Asked what would happen if the detainees didn’t want to be treated, he replied: “We do have the powers but that’s to something I want to get into at this point.”

A Department of Immigration spokesperson said the situation at Christmas Island was calm with the 200-odd asylum seekers gathered peacefully on the detention centre’s green heart.

The spokesperson said none of the detainees was engaging in “involuntary starvation” while those who have self-harmed have refused medical attention.

Earlier today, Social Justice Network spokesman Jamal Daoud said about 250 detainees were on a hunger strike for a third day at the centre.

The detainees - believed to be Iraqis, Iranian Kurds, Palestinians and Algerians - declared a hunger strike immediately after they heard about the death of an Iraqi detainee, Ahmad Al Akabi, in Sydney’s Villawood detention centre on Tuesday.

About 22 detainees at the Villawood centre started eating again yesterday, two days after they went on a hunger strike following Mr Al Akabi’s suicide.

There were chaotic scenes at the centre on Wednesday, sparked by the death of Mr Al Akabi, who had been in detention for more than a year.

Villawood was put into lockdown after a mattress was set alight and chairs and garbage bins were hurled on to spot fires.

Andrei.Hicks wrote on Nov 19^th, 2010 at 1:57pm:


Australia is going to the dogs. I just found out that they let in non-white "skilled" migrants.

Unbelieveable. They actually let these people in. Doctors, dentists, teachers, nurses. Can you believe it? Who do these people think they are?

I went to the doctor's the other day, and he was one of them. I don't know where they get their qualifications from. I'm amazed they can even spell their names.

Funny thing is, you never see these people in civilized company. They don't hang out with us. No wonder. Who'd want them!

I wouldn't mind if they WERE shoeshiners. At least they wouldn't be hiding behind some fake profession.

Shine em up good, doc, chop chop. Doctor, eh? Well, you make a great shoeshiner. I wouldn't let you near my boils but you know how to get a mirror shine. Where'd you get your degree from - some third world university? Ha! Put a bit of spit on em, boy, don't be stingy. Well, that degree of yours didn't go to waste. You don't mind working up a sweat, I'll say that for you.