The migrants are being detained
at several locations throughout the province. The hunger strike
began last week.
Some of the strikers are refusing everything -- they won't even
take a sip of water.
One, a woman being held in Burnaby, has already been admitted to
hospital for dehydration.
Corrections official Sheldon Green said food and drink is being
offered on a regular basis to the hunger strikers.
Immigration Canada says the migrants are being held for a good
reason, and the hunger strike won't bring a change of policy.
Officials point to earlier migrants who were released, then never
showed up for their refugee hearings.
The migrants have been held in detention for almost four months.
The migrants arrived illegally by sea, starting in July. After a
brutal passage on crowded and unsanitary ships, they ended up in
detention, waiting for hearings on their applications to be
considered refugees.
In all, 599 people came on four ships. Almost all sought refugee
status. Not one of them has succeeded, but not one has been
deported, either.
Tuesday, a small number of protesters gathered outside the
federal immigration office in Vancouver. They say it's unfair to
keep the migrants locked up indefinitely.
"They're saying, 'We want to be released. We're not criminals, so
what are we doing in jail for four or five months?'" said refugee
advocate Nandita Sharma