VANCOUVER (CP) - One of the Chinese migrants being detained
since arriving illegally on a cargo ship last summer is being
punished for speaking out about abuses in prison, a refugee
group says.
Direct Action Against Refugee Exploitation said the woman,
who they did not name, was locked in solitary confinement
after she told a Vancouver television station last week about
human rights abuses at the Burnaby Correctional Centre for
Women, where some migrant women are being detained.
"The woman had spoken publicly. . . and shortly
following that she was put into solitary confinement," said
Nandita Sharma.
"The prison told her that the reason she was being put into
solitary confinement was because they believed that she was
going to commit suicide."
But Sheldon Green, the spokesman for B.C. Corrections, said
the story is false.
"This woman was never in solitary confinement," he said.
Suicidal inmates are removed to a health care area, not to
solitary, he said.
Sharma said the woman is adamant she is not suicidal.
"She believes that being put into confinement was
punishment for speaking out about prison abuses," she said.
The woman, whose refugee claim has been rejected, planned
to speak to reporters Monday following her detention review
with the Immigration and Refugee Board.
"As soon as the hearing was over she had two guards on both
sides of her and they just completely whisked her away,"
Sharma said.
She said she hasn't spoken to the woman since.
The woman was one of almost 600 Chinese migrants that
arrived off the West Coast last summer aboard four decrepit
cargo ships.
Almost all made refugee claims and have remained in
detention since their arrival. Most claims have been rejected
and 113 migrants have been sent back to China.
Lois Reimer, a spokeswoman for Citizenship and Immigration,
said the department has no concerns about migrants being in
the care of B.C. Corrections.
"There's been a number (of allegations) in the past that
have been checked into and dismissed," Reimer said.
She said immigration officials did not know the woman
planned a news conference and when they found out there were
concerns about safety and security.
Officials were also concerned that allowing her to speak to
the media would break a publication ban imposed by the
Immigration and Refugee Board, Reimer said.
Lynn Gates, a regional director for the board, said public
identification poses a problem.
"While they may not have been a refugee when they left
China, they very may well become one here because they have
put themselves in a position of criticizing their government
publicly and putting their family in difficulty," Gates said.
There have been other allegations that migrants have been
mistreated.
In particular, Sharma is concerned that migrants are being
put in solitary confinement for the most minor of offences.
She said they have not been able to freely access their
lawyers or advocates and three migrant women held in Prince
George have attempted suicide.
Green said Sharma's group has made false allegations in the
past.
All allegations have been reviewed by an independent
investigator.
"Independent findings have consistently shown these
allegations are not based on fact," Green said.
There are several people, including a United Nations
representative in Vancouver, who have open access to migrants,
he said.
"The legal counsel for the UN (High Commission for
Refugees) can enter that facility at any time," Green said.
"We have nothing to hide."
© The Canadian Press, 2000